Dasara is also called navarathri in different parts of India, nine days of worship and festivity ends on the tenth day “Vijaydashmi”. In Mysore, the festival is popularly known as Dasara Fair or Mysore Dassara and has been declared as ‘Naada Habba’ or the State festival of karnatka.
The festival is mainly celebrated to mark the victory of Good over evil as Mysore was the residential place of the demon Mahisasura, who was killed by the Goddess Chamundeshwari (Chamundi) on vijaydashmi. Therefore the festival is celebrated every year with high festive spirits in honor of Goddess Chamundi.
The Dasara Fair is celebrated on a grand scale in the city of “maharajas”- Mysore and attracts tourist from all over the world. During 10 days of festival, the entire city turns into the dazzlingly illuminated stunning place with large crowd from far long areas to witness this grandiose event.
Many exciting programs like film festival, sports and wrestling, air show, food mela, Dasara exhibition are organized at different locations for 10 days. The festival is concluded on the 10th day with a mega event, the vijaydashmi procession.