Mahisha Mandalotsava was celebrated in Mysuru

Mahisha Mandalotsava organizing committee members including former mayor Purushotham and writer KS Bhagwan at Mahisha Mandalotsava at Mysuru Town Hall on Saturday. | Photo credit: MA Sriram

A day before the start of Dasara celebrations, Mahisha Mandalotsava 2026 was celebrated on Saturday amid tight police security at the Mysuru City Hall premises. Members of the Mahisha Mandalotsava ceremonial committee led by former mayor Purushotham decorated the statue of BR Ambedkar at the Town Hall and lit a candle held in front of the bronze miniatures of Buddha, Mahishasura and BR Ambedkar.

Dalit writer and thinker Vittal Vaggan in his inaugural address said that Mahisha was the ruler and argued that history has been hijacked by mythology while historical facts have been manipulated and replaced with mythological stories. He urged people to look at Mahisha from a historical perspective rather than seeing him from a mythological aspect that portrayed him as a demon.

If Mahisha was not a good ruler, why would such a majestic statue of Mahishasura be erected atop Chamundi Hill during the reign of the Wadiyars, he asked.

Historian PV Nanjaraj Urs said on the occasion that Chamundi Hill was earlier called “Mahabala Betta”, while writer KS Bhagavan spoke about the socialist ideas of BR Ambedkar.

A book titled ‘Mahisha Charithrika:Chamundi Kalpanika’ authored by Vittal Vaggan was also released on the occasion.

Although the city police had issued prohibitory orders up to 200 meters from the Mahishasura statue on Chamundi Hill from midnight on October 9 to early morning on October 11, Mr. Purushotham claimed that they had also decorated the Mahishasura statue and thanked Home Minister Priyank Kharge for his intervention in the matter.

Published – 10 Oct 2026 20:48 IST