Durgashtami is the eighth day of Navaratri, and in Karnataka Navaratri means Dasara, the Nada Habba, the festival of the state. For ten days Mysuru is given over to it: the palace is outlined each evening in nearly a hundred thousand bulbs, there are concerts, wrestling and a flower show, and Chamundeshwari is worshipped on her hill. At home, families set out the Dasara gombe, steps of dolls.
The story
Mysuru is Mahishuru, the town of the buffalo demon Mahishasura, whom the goddess Chamundeshwari killed on the hill that bears her name.
The royal festival was inherited from the Vijayanagara emperors, whose Mahanavami platform still stands at Hampi. The Wodeyars took it up at Srirangapatna in 1610 and brought it to Mysuru.
How the ten days go
- Gombe HabbaDolls arranged on nine steps, with the Pattada Gombe, the king and queen in wood, at the top.
- Khasagi DurbarThe head of the royal family ascends the golden throne in a private court.
- IlluminationThe palace and the whole city centre, each evening.
- Durga PujaOn Ashtami, with the Durga Saptashati.
- Yuva Dasara and KustiYouth concerts and the wrestling tournament.
Why this date
Durgashtami is the Ashtami of the bright half of Ashvayuja, on the day it is present at sunrise.
Durgashtami in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday | |
| 2027 | Thursday | |
| 2028 | Tuesday | |
| 2029 | Sunday | |
| 2030 | Friday | |
| 2031 | Thursday |
More Kannada festivals
8 OctoberMahanavami and Ayudha Pujaಮಹಾನವಮಿ · ಆಯುಧ ಪೂಜೆ
9 OctoberVijayadashamiವಿಜಯದಶಮಿ
4 SeptemberGowri Ganesha Habbaಗೌರಿ ಗಣೇಶ ಹಬ್ಬ
24 AugustSri Krishna Janmashtamiಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಜನ್ಮಾಷ್ಟಮಿ
17 AugustNoola Hunnimeನೂಲ ಹುಣ್ಣಿಮೆ
28 OctoberNaraka Chaturdashiನರಕ ಚತುರ್ದಶಿ
Where to see Durgashtami
In Karnataka
- Mysore PalaceKarnatakaThe centre of the festival, lit from seven to ten each night.
- Chamundeshwari Temple, Chamundi HillsKarnatakaThe goddess of the kingdom, a thousand steps above the city.
- Kudroli, MangaluruKarnatakaMangaluru Dasara, with nine forms of the goddess installed and a procession of tiger dancers.
- MadikeriKarnatakaThe hill town's Dasara, with ten lit floats through the night.
Across India
- KolkataWest BengalThe eighth day is the height of Bengal's Durga Puja.
- VijayawadaAndhra PradeshKanaka Durga on her hill above the Krishna.
- AhmedabadGujaratNine nights of garba, danced in rings round a lamp.