Mysuru will receive expanded Dasara illumination this year, with decorative lighting planned across 146 kilometres of roads and 123 circles from October 11 to 21, while a 3,500-drone show is scheduled at the Bannimantap Torchlight Parade Grounds.
The illumination will begin officially on the first day of the Dasara festival and will be switched on after darkness each evening during the 11-day celebration. The plan is aimed at enhancing the city’s festival appearance and accommodating the large number of visitors who travel to Mysuru for the annual event.
The coverage will increase from last year’s 136 kilometres of roads and 118 circles. More than 80 illuminated replicas made with LED bulbs are also being prepared at prominent locations. Among the roads identified for decoration are those around the Amba Vilas Palace, New Sayyaji Rao Road, Irwin Road, Albert Victor Road, JLB Road, Chamaraja Double Road, Vinoba Road, the road near the Zilla Panchayat office, the road near the city police commissioner’s office and Devaraja Urs Road. Important highways on the outskirts of the city will also receive illumination.
Several major public spaces and junctions will feature illuminated installations. These include Dodda Kere Maidan, KR Circle, Chamaraja Circle, Jayachamaraja Circle, Ramaswamy Circle, the area near the railway station, Gun House Circle and LIC Circle. The installations are expected to include representations connected with the Mysuru royal family, notable personalities who contributed to the state and the government’s flagship schemes, according to CESC Superintending Engineer Sunilkumar, who spoke to Prajavani.
The plan also includes 51 illuminated arches. These will be installed along important roads such as Albert Victor Road, Sayyaji Rao Road and D Devaraja Urs Road, as well as at or near Krishnaraja, Jayachamarajendra, Chamarajendra and Ayurveda College circles and the JSS Mahavidyapeetha area. Workers have already begun preparations, and trial lighting is being conducted at different locations.
The drone show will also be expanded. A display using 1,500 drones was held in 2024, while 3,000 drones were used for shows on September 28, 29, October 1 and October 2 last year. This year, organisers have decided to add 500 drones, taking the total to 3,500. The display will be held at the Bannimantap Torchlight Parade Grounds and will form part of the festival’s public programme.
Last year, the illumination continued beyond the scheduled 21-day period for a few additional days following public demand. CESC’s current plan is to operate the main illumination from October 11 to 21, with the official launch scheduled for the evening of October 11. The city’s roads, circles and public spaces will remain the primary sites for the festival lighting and installations.
