Vijayadashmi (Dasera)
One derivation of the word Dasera is from dashhara.
'Dash' means ten and 'hara' means defeated. Nine
days before Dasera, in the nine days of Navaratri,
all the ten directions are saturated with the female
deity's (devi's-Shakti) energy. 'Shakti' has control
over creation in all the ten directions (dikbhav),
attendants (gan), etc. That is why this day is known
as Dashhara, Dasera, Vijayadashami, etc. This is one
amongst the three and a half auspicious moments (muhurts)
of the year. This falls on the tenth day (dashami)
of the bright fortnight of Ashvin. The immersion of
the Navratri (female deity) is done on the ninth day
(navami) or the tenth day. Four rituals namely
crossing the territory (Simollanghan), worship of
the Shami tree (Shamipujan), worship of the deity
Aparajita (Aparajitapujan) and worship of
instruments (Shastrapuja) should be performed on
this day.
 
Dasara is the Nadahabba of the
state of Karnataka. It is also called as Navaratri
(Nava-ratri = nine-nights) and is a 10-day festival
with the last day being Vijayadashami, the most
auspicious day of Dasara. Dasara usually falls in
the month of September or October. According to a
legend, Vijayadashami denotes the victory of truth
over evil and was the day when the Hindu Goddess
Chamundeshwari killed the demon Mahishasura.
Mahishasura is the demon from whose name; the name
Mysore has been derived. The city of Mysore has a
long tradition of celebrating the Dasara festival
and the festivities here are an elaborate affair and
attract a large audience including foreigners.
Festivities
Festivities were first started by the Wodeyar King,
Raja Wodeyar I (1578-1617 CE) in the year 1610. The
Mysore Palace is lit up on all the 10 days of Dasara.
The festivities begin with the Wodeyar royal couple
performing a special puja to Goddess Chamundeshwari
in the Chamundi Temple located on the top of
Chamundi Hill at Mysore. This would be followed by a
special durbar (royal assembly). It was during the
reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III in the year 1805,
when the king started the tradition of having a
special durbar in the Mysore Palace during Dasara;
which was attended by members of the royal family,
special invitees, officials and the masses. This
tradition has been continued even now with the
current scion of the Wodeyar family, Srikantadatta
Narasimharaja Wodeyar holding a private durbar
during Dasara. The ninth day of Dasara called as
Mahanavami is also an auspicious day on which the
royal sword is worshipped and is taken on a
procession involving elephants, camels and horses
Procession
On Vijayadashami, the traditional Dasara procession
(locally known as Jumboo Savari) is held on the
streets of Mysore city. The main attraction of this
procession is the idol of the Goddess Chamundeshwari
which is placed on a golden mantapa on the top of a
decorated elephant. This idol is worshipped by the
royal couple and other invitees before it is taken
around in the procession. Colourful tableaux, dance
groups, music bands, decorated elephants, horses and
camels form a part of the procession which starts
from the Mysore Palace and culminates at a place
called Bannimantap where the banni tree (Prosopis
spicigera) is worshipped. According to a legend of
the Mahabharata, banni tree was used by the Pandavas
to hide their arms during their one-year period of
Agnatavasa (living life incognito). Before
undertaking any warfare, the kings traditionally
worshipped this tree to help them emerge victorious
in the war. The Dasara festivities would culminate
on the night of Vijayadashami with an event held in
the grounds at Bannimantap called as Panjina
Kavayatthu (torch-light parade).
Exhibition
Another major attraction during Dasara is the Dasara
exhibition which is held in the exhibition grounds
opposite to the Mysore Palace. This exhibition
starts during Dasara and goes on till December.
Various stalls which sell items like clothes,
plastic items, kitchenware, cosmetics and eatables
are set up and they attract a significant amount of
people. A play area containing attractions like
ferris-wheel is also present to provide
entertainment to the people. Various Governmental
agencies setup stalls to signify the achievements
and projects that they have undertaken.
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