Veteran film actor Srinath, the special guest invited by the Shivamogga City Corporation to inaugurate the festival, took part in the procession. File
| Photo Credit: H S Manjunath
The Shivamogga Dasara celebrations began on Sunday (October 11, 2026) with a colourful procession of the Chamundeshwari idol from the City Corporation premises to the Chandika Durga Parameshwari Temple on Kote Street.
Veteran film actor Srinath, the special guest invited by the Shivamogga City Corporation to inaugurate the festival, took part in the procession. He also danced to the beats of folk artists, and Shivamogga MLA S.N. Channabasappa and others joined him.
The actor inaugurated the celebrations after offering puja to Chamundeshwari at the temple.
Speaking on the occasion, Srinath recalled his association with the Mysuru Dasara since his childhood. He said he was happy to get the opportunity to inaugurate the Shivamogga Dasara and thanked the officials and elected representatives of the district for inviting him. “I am fortunate to receive the invitation to inaugurate Dasara in Shivamogga. I received a hearty welcome here and felt blessed to be among people with smiles and happiness,” he said.
Shivamogga Lok Sabha member B.Y. Raghavendra said the Shivamogga Dasara celebrations had been gaining significance over the years and would soon be on a par with those held in Mysuru and Madikeri. He also hoped Goddess Chamundeshwari would bless the people with good rainfall and relieve farmers of the impact of drought.
Mr. Channabasappa, who presided over the ceremony, said the City Corporation had made all necessary arrangements for the celebrations and had formed 14 committees to oversee them. The State government would provide ₹50 lakh for the event. “We are holding events catering to different sections of society. Ranga Dasara, Makkala Dasara and Cine Dasara will have special attractions,” he said.
The MLA said the corporation offered a new piece of jewellery to the Chamundeshwari idol every year. “We had planned to have a golden face made for the idol. As we learnt that the work would take two months, we decided to offer golden bangles to the goddess,” he said.
Corporation Commissioner Mayanna Gowda and others were present.
Published – October 11, 2026 04:32 pm IST
