Vijayadashami is the tenth day and the climax of Mysuru Dasara. In the afternoon the Jamboo Savari sets out from the palace: a line of caparisoned elephants, the leader carrying the image of Chamundeshwari in a howdah of gold weighing three-quarters of a tonne, with bands, dancers, tableaux and mounted guards. It ends five kilometres away at Bannimantap, where a torchlight parade is held after dark.
The story
Until 1969 it was the Maharaja who rode in the golden howdah; since then it has been the goddess.
Bannimantap is the place of the banni tree. On this day its leaves are exchanged as gold across north Karnataka, with a wish to live in friendship, in memory of the Pandavas who hid their weapons in such a tree.
ಬನ್ನಿ ತಗೊಂಡು ಬಂಗಾರದಂಗ ಇರೋಣ
Take this banni, and let us be as gold to each other
Said in north Karnataka as the leaves are exchanged
How the day goes
- Nandi Dhwaja pujaThe Chief Minister worships the flag at the palace gate, and the procession begins.
- Jamboo SavariThe elephants, trained for two months for the route and the noise.
- Panjina KavayatuThe torchlight parade of mounted police and gymnasts.
- BanniLeaves of the shami tree are given and received.
- VidyarambhaChildren are started on their letters.
Why this date
Vijayadashami is the Dashami of the bright half of Ashvayuja, on the day it prevails in the afternoon.
Vijayadashami in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday | |
| 2027 | Saturday | |
| 2028 | Wednesday | |
| 2029 | Tuesday | |
| 2030 | Sunday | |
| 2031 | Saturday |
More Kannada festivals
8 OctoberMahanavami and Ayudha Pujaಮಹಾನವಮಿ · ಆಯುಧ ಪೂಜೆ
7 OctoberDurgashtamiದುರ್ಗಾಷ್ಟಮಿ
28 OctoberNaraka Chaturdashiನರಕ ಚತುರ್ದಶಿ
29 OctoberDeepavaliದೀಪಾವಳಿ
4 SeptemberGowri Ganesha Habbaಗೌರಿ ಗಣೇಶ ಹಬ್ಬ
14 NovemberKartika Hunnimeಕಾರ್ತಿಕ ಹುಣ್ಣಿಮೆ
Where to see Vijayadashami
In Karnataka
- MysuruKarnatakaThe Jamboo Savari, from the palace to Bannimantap.
- MangaluruKarnatakaThe Dasara procession of Kudroli, with Huli Vesha troupes, through the night.
- MadikeriKarnatakaThe floats of the ten temples reach the town centre at dawn.
- SrirangapatnaKarnatakaWhere the Wodeyars first held Dasara; it has its own procession a few days earlier.
Across India
- KulluHimachal PradeshThe valley's week-long Dussehra begins today.
- DelhiDelhiThe burning of Ravana at the Ramlila grounds.
- BastarChhattisgarhThe seventy-five-day Dussehra of the goddess Danteshwari.