No passes, no problem: Dasara fans find their vantage points

Tusker Prashanth, accompanied by Kaveri and Roopa, majestically carrying the iconic 750kg golden howdah with an idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari seated in it, amid crowds during the grand Jamboo Savari in Mysuru on Wednesday (October 21). | Photo credit: MA Sriram

Such is the public fascination of the Jamboo Savari that people without passes or tickets to watch the procession from the Mysuru Palace premises have started booking seats along the tiered viewing walkways at Bannimantap along the procession route as early as four days before the Dasara finale.

The tiered galleries, stretching from Bamboo Bazaar to Highway Circle, were created years ago to facilitate public viewing of the procession. With thousands of people expected to line the route to catch a glimpse of the spectacular spectacle, people set out to secure their preferred spots well in advance.

Mats and rugs were spread over the stairs to mark their chosen places and prevent others from occupying them. People took turns guarding their sites, keeping watch from dawn to dusk and through the night to ensure their vantage points remained undisturbed.

However, this year the trees and monuments along the route were off limits for spectators and the police took strict measures to prevent people from climbing them for safety reasons.

The excitement was also evident during the rehearsals in the run-up to the finals, when large crowds gathered along the route to watch the elephants.

The eagerness to witness the iconic procession turned into a massive turnout on Vijayadashami, with people jostling for space along the route to catch a glimpse of elephants in caparisoned and golden howdahs.

Published – 21 Oct 2026 23:08 IST