| MYSORE
DUSSEHRA |
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| Celebrated In
:
Mysore, karnataka |
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| To Celebrate :
The Victory of good over
evil |
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| Duration :
10 days |
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| In the month
of :
September - October |
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| The Dussehra of Mysore or
Mysore Dassara as it is famously called is a 10-day long festival. On the day
of Dussehra, a procession of caparisoned elephants carrying the idol of goddess
Chamundi is taken through the city.
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| While most parts
of India celebrate Dussehra in commemoration of Lord Rama's victory over the
demon-king Ravana, Karnataka celebrates it in honour of Goddess Chamundeswari
who killed the great demon, Mahishasura. |
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| The festival is celebrated in
a grand style with scores of cultural performances in the great Durbar Hall of
the Maharaja's Palace.
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The Main Highlight
Caparisoned elephants marching together
in a procession are a unique feature of the Mysore Dassara. The festival is
celebrated with a lot of pomp and show.
On Vijaydashami, the 10th day of the festival, a colourful procession featuring
caparisoned elephants winding through the gaily-decorated streets of the city,
mark the occasion. |
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| The procession of mounted
guardsmen on horse back and decorated elephants, one carrying the palace deity,
Chamundeshwari, on a gold 'howdah' marches from the palace to the Banni Mantap.
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| There is also a floating
festival in the temple tank at the foot of Chamundi Hill and a procession of
chariots around the temple at the top. A torch light parade takes place in the
evening followed by a massive firework display and much jubilation on the
streets. |
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