Yathindra invites royal family to Dasara; palace entry restricted on select days

Minister in-charge of Mysuru district Yathindra Siddaramaiah extending Dasara invite to Pramoda Devi Wadiyar at the Mysuru Palace on Friday. | Photo Credit: M.A. Sriram Urban Development and Mysuru district in-charge Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah on Friday formally invited the Mysuru royal family to participate in the Mysuru Dasara-2026 celebrations.Dr. Yathindra visited the Mysuru Palace and handed over the invitation to Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, inviting her and other members of the royal family to the Dasara festivities. The royal family has assured its full cooperation for the smooth conduct of the celebrations, he said.Dr. Yathindra said it was customary for the district in-charge Minister to formally invite the royal family to the Dasara celebrations every year.The Minister also said the royal family had suggested restricting the number of people allowed at the spot where the golden ambari is mounted on the elephant, in view of the delay caused by the large gathering at the venue during the process last year.Elected representatives and senior officials accompanied the Minister.Meanwhile, public and tourist entry to the Mysuru Palace will be temporarily restricted on select days in October and November in view of religious rituals to be performed by the royal family as part of Dasara festivities.According to the Mysuru Palace Board, entry will be restricted from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on October 5 to facilitate the assembling of the jewel-studded golden throne. Entry will also be restricted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 11 for rituals associated with the royal family’s throne ascension and private Durbar.There will be no public entry to the palace throughout October 20, when the Mahanavami and Ayudha Puja rituals will be held at the Kalyana Mantapa. On October 21, Vijayadashami, general entry to the palace will remain closed throughout the day. Only visitors holding Dasara passes and Jamboo Savari tickets will be permitted entry.Entry will again be restricted from 10 a.m. to noon on November 19 to facilitate the dismantling of the golden throne and its shifting to the security room, the Mysuru Palace Board said in a press release.In another announcement, the Palace Board said the sound-and-light programme at the palace, normally held from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., would remain suspended from October 5 to November 1 in view of the Dasara celebrations. The programme will resume as usual from November 2. Published - October 02, 2026 07:45 pm IST