Horses, Buffaloes, Cattle and Pets Steal Spotlight at Mysuru Dasara 2026

Animals steal the show at Mysuru Dasara 2026

Animals beyond the Ambari elephants drew attention across Mysuru Dasara events this year, with horses, buffaloes, cattle, pets and birds taking prominent roles during the festivities.

The elephants remained central to the celebrations, from the majestic elephant carrying the golden howdah to the animals that took part in events across the city. Ever since the elephants arrived from the Dubare camp at the Mysuru palace premises, they had remained a topic of daily discussion alongside preparations for Mysuru Dasara.

Elephants remain a public favourite

Elephants Prashanth, Abhimanyu, Gopi, Mahendra, Lakshmi, Sugreeva, Ekalvya and others are fondly remembered across households in Mysuru. Their popularity extended beyond the Jamboo Savari, as people also gathered to watch them during rehearsals in the weeks leading up to the festivities.

The crowds that formed along the roads during the rehearsals showed how closely the elephants were followed before the main procession. Their presence kept the focus on the Dasara tradition even as other animals became attractions at separate events.

Mysuru’s association with animals also includes its tradition of horse riding, which continued during this year’s celebrations. Horse riding performances at the Torchlight Parade at Bannimantap marked the culmination of Vijayadashami.

The performances included tent pegging, horse jumping and fire jumping. Around 15 horses trained by the Mounted Company, Mysuru, took part in the show and left spectators spellbound.

The traditional Tonga ride was another prominent event, with 40 couples in traditional attire taking part. The unique ride involved 25 horses and became a memorable experience for the participants.

Buffalo races add a new attraction

Kambala was introduced as an added attraction during Dasara this year. The event featured 150 pairs of buffaloes from coastal Karnataka.

Two day and night buffalo races were held for the first time as part of the Dasara celebrations. The races emerged as a crowd-puller, bringing another major animal event into the festival programme.

Raitha Dasara added a rural element to the festivities through the participation of 18 cows belonging to various breeds. The event received a good response from farmers from Mysuru and neighbouring districts.

Hallikar bulls highlight indigenous breeds

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services organised an animal exhibition featuring rare breeds of cattle and sheep. Hallikar bulls, described as Karnataka’s prominent indigenous cattle breed, were among the main highlights of the two-day expo.

The exhibition was held at an open ground near Kukkarahalli Lake. Around 51 Hallikar bull pairs participated, attracting farmers and creating awareness about the indigenous breed.

The Hallikar breed also has a connection with the history of Mysuru, having enjoyed the royal patronage of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family. The exhibition therefore brought together the breed’s agricultural importance and its association with the city’s royal legacy.

Pets draw young visitors

Pets also found a place in the Dasara spotlight through the Pet Show. The event received an overwhelming response from pet lovers, particularly youth and women.

The day-long show featured around 52 cats and 702 dogs. The dogs included German Shepherd, Lhasa Apso, Beagle, Shih Tzu, Doberman, Poodle, Great Dane, Rajapalyam and Pugs.

Around 30 pet birds also took part in the show. The range of participating animals extended the festival’s animal attractions from traditional Dasara events to household pets and birds.

“Such platforms help us create global awareness about the various breeds,” said B.N. Nanjesh. Nanjesh added that the event may be scaled up next year depending on the budget.

Mysuru is also home to Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, described as one of India’s oldest zoos, which celebrates its 134th anniversary this year. The city is also home to the first cat museum, reflecting its long association with animals.

Source: The Hindu