Mysore has turned into a city of lights and celebrations with the 10-day-long Dasara festivities taking off on September 23.

The government-sponsored celebrations began in the morning atop the Chamundi Hills, with the worship of Goddess Chamundeswari, the presiding diety of this ancient city ruled for over five and half centuries by the Yadu dynasty, the Wodeyars of Mysore.

The scion of Mysore royal family, Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wodeyar began the religious ceremony in the Palace as laid down in the Devi Mahathme, the worship of the Devi Goddess for nine days, to conclude with the Vijaya Dasami procession in his private capacity.

The celebrations end with the Vijaya Dasami procession on October 2. The decorated idol of Goddess Chamundeswari will be taken in the golden howdah atop the elephant Balarama. The procession will commence in the afternoon from the Palace premises. After it reaches the Banni Mantap grounds, a torchlight parade will be conducted.

The authorities have made elaborate arrangements for the visiting public and tourists during the festival season.

The official website: www.mysoredasara.org

The major events of the Dasara celebrations are:

• 9-day Music festival in front of the Palace, daily at 6 p.m. from September 23
• 9-day Cultural events at the Jaganmohan Palace, daily at 6 p.m. from September 23
• 9-day Drama festival at Rangacharlu Memorial Town Hall, daily at 6 p.m. from September 23.
• 9-day Cultural events at Kala Mandira, daily at 6 p.m. from September 23.
• 9-day Cultural programmes at Veene Seshanna Bhavan, daily at 6-30 p.m. from September 23.
• Palace illumination, from September 23 to October 2, daily at 7 p.m.
• Dasara Exhibition from September 23.
• Air Show at Banni Mantap grounds
• National level wrestling competitions at Devaraj Urs Multipurpose Stadium from September 23.
• Horticulture Show at Curzon Park from September 23.
• Dasara Sports at Chamundi Vihar Stadium from September 23.
• Poets' Meet at Jaganmohan Palace on September 28 at 5 p.m.
• Humour festival at Jaganmohan Palace on September 24 at 2-30 p.m.
• Rangothsava at Rangayana, Kala Mandira premises, daily 5-30 p.m.
• State-level Karate championships from September 23 to 25
• Youth Dasara at the Mysore University Open Air Theatre, Manasa Gangotri, from September 23, daily at 6 p.m.
• Food Mela at Town Hall grounds from September 23 to30
• Film festival at five selected theatres and Bal Bhavan, From Sept. 23 to 30,
  daily at 10 a.m.
• Devotional music programmes opposite Chamundeswari Temple atop Chamundi Hills, daily from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., from Sept. 23 to October 11.
• Rathotsava on October 9. Theppothsava on October 11.