Mysuru Dasara Season: Pramoda Devi Wadiyar Opposes Kambala as Exhibition Authority Launches Innovative Expo
Mysuru's Dasara season this year brought cultural controversy and civic celebration in equal measure, with Pramoda Devi Wadiyar expressing reservations about Kambala buffalo racing during the festival, while the Karnataka Exhibition Authority launched an innovative new format for its annual Dasara expo.
🪔 Pramoda Devi Wadiyar Raises Concerns Over Kambala During Dasara
Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, a prominent member of the Mysuru royal family, publicly expressed reservations about the inclusion of Kambala — the traditional coastal Karnataka buffalo race — as an event during Mysuru Dasara. Dasara is the state festival of Karnataka and the centrepiece of Mysuru's cultural calendar, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year for the ten-day celebration that culminates in the grand Jamboo Savari procession. Pramoda Devi Wadiyar's reservations about Kambala reflect ongoing debates within Karnataka about the appropriate venues and contexts for the sport, which is deeply embedded in the culture of the coastal districts but has faced periodic criticism from animal welfare advocates. The royal family's historical stewardship of the Dasara celebrations gives Pramoda Devi Wadiyar's views particular weight in public discussions about the festival's programming. Her comments drew attention from across Karnataka and sparked fresh discussion about the relationship between traditional sports and state-endorsed cultural events. [3]
🎉 Karnataka Exhibition Authority Launches Innovative Dasara Expo
The Karnataka Exhibition Authority launched a new and innovative format for the Mysuru Dasara exhibition this season, refreshing one of the oldest and best-attended trade and cultural exhibitions in South India. The Dasara exhibition traditionally runs alongside the main Dasara celebrations in October and draws exhibitors from across Karnataka and neighbouring states, with stalls covering handicrafts, electronics, food, agriculture, and local industry. The new format introduced by the Exhibition Authority was designed to enhance visitor engagement and showcase Karnataka's manufacturing and cultural sectors in a more dynamic way. Mysuru Dasara is one of the most commercially significant festivals for local businesses and craftspeople, and the exhibition serves as a key marketplace for artisans, small-scale manufacturers, and tourism-related businesses. The exhibition runs for the duration of the Dasara season and typically attracts large crowds from Mysuru, Bengaluru, and other parts of Karnataka. [7]
🏢 CII Mysuru Conclave to Focus on Smart Manufacturing
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organised a conclave in Mysuru centred on smart manufacturing, emerging sectors, and the city's industrial potential. Mysuru has been growing as an industrial and technology hub alongside Bengaluru, with a number of major manufacturers including the Infosys campus and established public sector units contributing to the city's economic profile. The CII conclave brought together industry leaders, government officials, and policy makers to discuss strategies for developing Mysuru's manufacturing base and attracting new investment in emerging technology sectors. Smart manufacturing — encompassing automation, digital processes, and Industry 4.0 approaches — was a central theme of the discussions. The event underscored Mysuru's ambition to position itself as a tier-two industrial destination while preserving the heritage and tourism character that makes it one of Karnataka's most visited cities. [1]
Sources: [3] ThePrint · [7] timesofindia.indiatimes.com · [1] The Hindu