Mysuru Dasara 2026: Karnataka Goes All Out for Nada Habba as Water Crisis Looms
Mysuru is entering its most festive season of the year — Ganesh Chaturthi from September 11 to 13 and the grand Nada Habba Dasara from October 11 to 21 — with the state government pulling out all stops. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is personally overseeing Dasara preparations, inviting counterparts from all southern states and deploying the Army, Navy, and Air Force for tableaux. On the transport front, KSRTC has announced 2,400 extra buses for the Chaturthi rush. But even as festive energy builds, a separate crisis is unfolding: the KRS and Kabini reservoirs are draining faster than they fill, leaving Mysuru's paddy farmers facing their worst year in recent memory, with only 44% of the district's sowing target achieved.
Dasara 2026: Karnataka's Grandest Nada Habba Yet
Karnataka is going all out for this year's Nada Habba. Mysuru Dasara 2026 is scheduled from October 11 to 21, culminating in the grand Jamboo Savari procession under the auspicious Meena Lagna. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has personally issued invitations to the chief ministers of all South Indian states, giving the festival an unprecedented pan-southern dimension. Cultural troupes from across the country have been invited to participate, promising a rich mosaic of performances alongside the traditional Mysuru spectacle. In a striking show of national participation, the Army, Navy, and Air Force have all been invited to present tableaux during the procession — adding a patriotic layer to the cultural pageant. The Jamboo Savari, Mysuru's iconic elephant procession, remains the centrepiece of Dasara and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city each October. This year, with the CM's personal involvement and invitations extending to neighbouring state governments and all three armed forces, the scale and prestige of the celebration is set to reach new heights. [3]
CM Shivakumar Reviews Dasara Preparations, Invites Southern State CMs
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has taken personal charge of Dasara 2026 preparations, chairing a review meeting where he directed officials to organise this year's state festival in a distinctly different and grander manner. Shivakumar ordered the immediate dispatch of official invitation letters to the Chief Ministers of all southern states — with Tamil Nadu's CM C. Joseph Vijay specifically named among the invitees, reflecting the event's deep regional significance. The CM emphasised that the Dasara celebrations must be grand and unique, standing apart from previous editions. He reviewed arrangements across all facets of the festival, from cultural programming to logistics, with senior officials responsible for each domain in attendance. The review was conducted in Bengaluru, and officials were directed to act immediately on the CM's directives. Shivakumar's hands-on approach underlines the state government's ambition to make Mysuru Dasara 2026 a landmark edition that showcases Karnataka's heritage to both national and international audiences — leveraging the presence of neighbouring state leaders and armed forces representatives to amplify the festival's reach. [7]
KSRTC Deploys 2,400 Extra Buses for Ganesh Chaturthi Rush
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is deploying 2,400 extra buses from Bengaluru to meet surging travel demand during Ganesh Chaturthi, observed from September 11 to 13. The additional services will radiate across Karnataka and several neighbouring states. From the Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic), special buses will serve prominent pilgrimage destinations including Dharmasthala, Kukke Subrahmanya, Sringeri, and Horanadu, alongside major cities such as Mangaluru, Shivamogga, Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, and inter-state destinations including Tirupati, Vijayawada, and Hyderabad. The Mysuru Road Bus Station will handle exclusive services to Mysuru, Hunsur, Piriyapatna, Virajpet, Kushalnagar, and Madikeri. Premier special buses to Tamil Nadu and Kerala — covering Madurai, Kumbakonam, Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode — will operate from Shanthinagar Bus Station. Return services on September 14 will run from all taluk and district bus stands across KSRTC's jurisdiction based on traffic demand, ensuring smooth return travel for festive travellers. [8]
KRS at 107 Feet, Farmers Face Grim Season as Reservoirs Drain
Declining water levels in the Kabini and KRS (Krishna Raja Sagara) reservoirs have become a critical concern for farmers across the Mysuru region, particularly paddy growers. The release of water to Tamil Nadu has accelerated the drawdown, leaving agriculture in a precarious state entering the key cultivation season. As of September 6, the KRS dam stood at just 107 feet — with inflow recorded at 2,774 cusecs but outflow at 8,983 cusecs, meaning the reservoir is losing water nearly three-and-a-half times faster than it is gaining. Officials confirm that available water will be sufficient only for drinking needs and not for agricultural activities. Agriculture Department Joint Director K.H. Ravi confirmed Mysuru district has achieved only 44% of its annual sowing target due to deficit rains. The total cultivable area is approximately 3.82 lakh hectares — comprising one lakh irrigated hectares dependent on KRS and Kabini dams, and 2.7 lakh rain-fed hectares. Farmers warn conditions could worsen sharply in coming months if reservoir levels continue falling. The region is on course to record less than 50% of its sowing target — an alarming shortfall for paddy growers heading into the post-monsoon period. [9]
Sources: [3] WION · [7] deccanherald.com · [8] deccanherald.com · [9] deccanherald.com