Animals steal the show on Mysuru Dasara 2026

The Tonga Traditional Ride was an unforgettable experience for 40 couples in traditional dress, with 25 horses taking part in the unique event held in the city. | Photo credit: File photo

While Mysuru celebrated the legacy of Ambari elephants during Dasara, several other animals turned up as showstoppers at various events during the festival this year.

From a majestic elephant carrying a golden howdah to adorable pets, animals stole the show during many events.

Ever since the elephants arrived from the Dubare camp in the Mysuru Palace premises, they have remained the topic of daily discussion alongside the Mysuru Dasara preparations.

Elephants Prashanth, Abhimanyu, Gopi, Mahendra, Lakshmi, Sugreeva, Ekalvya and others are fondly remembered across households.

Their popularity exceeded Jamboo Savari. Even during the rehearsals in the weeks leading up to the celebrations, people crowded the roads.

As a city of palaces and royalty, Mysuru is known for horse riding and this year it continued to keep the tradition alive. The Torchlight Parade at Bannimantap, which marked the culmination of Vijayadashami, featured equestrian sports such as tent standing, horse jumping and fire jumping. About 15 horses, trained by the Mounted Company, Mysuru, performed during the show and the audience was amazed.

The Tonga Traditional Ride was an unforgettable experience for 40 couples in traditional dress, with 25 horses taking part in the unique event held in the city.

Turbot

Introduced as another attraction this year, Kambala featured 150 pairs of buffaloes from coastal Karnataka. The two day and night buffalo races, held for the first time as part of the Dasara celebrations, proved to be a crowd puller.

With the participation of 18 cows of different breeds, Raitha Dasara, which gave a rural touch to the festivities, received a good response from the farmers of Mysuru and neighboring areas.

Rare breeds of cattle and sheep were presented at an animal exhibition organized by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services. Hallikar bulls, a prominent indigenous breed of cattle in Karnataka, were among the highlights of the two-day fair held in an open area near the Kukkarahalli lake.

About 51 pairs of Hallikar bulls participated in the exhibition, attracting farmers and creating awareness about the original breed, which enjoyed the royal patronage of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family.

Pets also had their moment in the spotlight. The Pet Show received an overwhelming response from pet lovers, especially the youth and women. The day-long show featured around 52 cats and 702 dogs of breeds like German Shepherd, Lhasa Apso, Beagle, Shih Tzu, Doberman, Poodle, Great Dane, Rajapalyam and Pugs. About 30 domestic birds also participated.

“Such platforms help us create global awareness about different breeds,” said BN Nanjesh, adding that depending on the budget, they may expand the event next year.

Mysuru is also home to one of India’s oldest zoos, the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, which celebrates its 134th anniversary this year, and the first cat museum, reflecting the city’s long association with animals.

Published – 22 Oct 2026 20:28 IST