The Dasara celebrations are formally commencing from September 27 and several programmes have been chalked out for the eight-day festivities, including the concluding Vijaya Dasami procession on October 5. Details of some of the major programmes are as follows:

Mahajara's Palace: Illumination - From September 26 to October 4 daily from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On October 5 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Admission Free)

Admission for Tourists: September 26 - 12 p.m. to 5-30 p.m. September 27 - 3 p.m. to 5-30 p.m. October 4 - 3 p.m. to 5-30 p.m. October 5 - No entry (Admission to see the Palace remains unchanged on the rest of the days. Admission is by tickets)

Maharaja's Palace (Inside Fort at Main Entrance): Music festival by renowned musicians of India will be inaugurated by Kannada film actor and MP Mr. Ambarish on September 27 at 6 p.m. The daily concerts commence at 6 p.m. at the Ane Bagilu (Elephant entrance gate) of the Palace. Admission to special enclosures is by tickets of Rs 100. General public are allowed free of cost at the open place. The programmes at the Palace are:

September 27 - Clarionet and Violin Jugal Bandi by Narasimhalu Vadavati and Dr. M. Manjunath.
September 28 - Sugama Sangeetha by Shimoga Subbanna, S.Mallanna, Madikeri Nagendra, Dhivya Raghavan, Premalatha Diwakar, Dr. Lohit Mohan, Kikkeri Krishnamurthy, Raju Ananthaswamy and Supriya Acharya.
September 29 - Violin by Dr. Lalgudi Jayaraman.
September 30 - Karnatak Vocal by Dr. M. Balamurali Krishna.
October 1 - Veena and Sitar Jugal Bandi by Dr. Suma Sudheendra and Shubendra Rao.
October 2 - Hindustani Music by Shuba Mudhagal.
October 3 - Karnataka Music by K.Jesudas.
October 4 - Presentation of Sangeetha Vidwan award followed by Hindustani Music by Rajan Mishra-Sajan Mishra.

Jaganmohan Palace: Dance performances by renowned dancers of India are arranged daily from 6 p.m.

September 27 - Bharata Natyam by Chethan Hebbar, and Ramayana Ballet by Jayalakshmi Alva.
September 28 - Bharata Natyam by Niveditha, and Sri Basaveswara - Dance Ballet by Keshava Nruthya Shale troupe.
September 29 - Bharata Natyam by Susheela Mehtha, and Dance Ballet by Vyjayanthi Kashi of Shambavi School of Dance.
September 30 - Bharata Natyam by Nethra Chitrangada, and Dance Ballet by Veenamurthy Vijaya.
October 1 - Bharata Natyam by Vidya Ravishankar Radha Darshan, and Dance Ballet by Dr.Tulasi Ramachandra.
October 2 - Bharata Natyam by Priyadarshini Govinda, and Kathak Dance by Sushmitha Banerjee.
October 3 - Bharata Natyam by Chethana Radhakrishna, and Dance Ballet by Prathibha Prahlad.
October 4 - Poets' Meet (Recitation of poems by poets of different Indian Languages)

Kala Mandira: Music and Drama festival by popular musicians and drama troupes of Karnataka daily from 6 p.m.

September 27 - Karnatak Music by Kavitha and Triveni, and 'Krishnadevaraya' play by Kadamba Ranga Vedike.
September 28 - Flute recital by A.V.Prakash, and 'Urilingapeddi' play by Shivakumara Kalasangha.
September 29 - Qawali by Zayidulla Khan, and 'Yayathi' play by Deva Nagesh, Nandana.
September 30 - Sugama Sangeetha by Jagadish Kalavrunda, and 'Chinnada Gombe' play by Sri Adishakthi Krupaposhitha Nataka Mandali.
October 1 - Hindustani Music by Handiganuru, and 'Kathale Belaku' play by Rangayana troupe.
October 2 - Veena recital by Shanti Rao, and Yakshagana by Sri Mantapa Prabhakar.
October 3 - Sugama Sangeetha by H.R.Leelavathi and Raghuram, and Stage Songs by Kalpana Naganath, Janardhan, Subhadramma Mansur, Banandhur Kempayya, Appagere Thimmaraju, Basavalingaiah, Mysore Rangaswamy.
October 4 - Hindustani Music by Dr. Hanuamanna Nayaka Dore, and 'Jalagara' play by Hulivan Gangadharaiah.

Manasa Gangotri Open Air Theatre: Yuva Dasara (Dasara Cultural Programmes for Youth).

September 28 - Inauguration, Bangra Dance (Punjab), African Dance (South Africa), Dance variety (Sri Lanka), Dance Ballet (Prabhat Artistes, Bangalore), Group Dances (Sadvidya P.U.College and J.S.S.Women's College, Mysore).
September 29 - Western Fusion (William Joseph International Academy, Bangalore), Dance Variety (South Africa), Gidda Dance (Punjab), Dance Variety (Mysore Medical College, Mysore), Group Dance (Maharaja's College, Mysore), Folk Dance and Ballet by (Banumiah's College, Mysore).
September 30 - World Fusion Band (Rhythm Asia Troupe, A.Shivamani - Mumbai Drums, Louis Banks - Key Board, Neeladri Kumar - Sitar), Group Dance and Feature (Mahajana First Grade College, Mysore), Group Dance and Folk Dance (Sarada Vilasa College, Mysore), Group Dance (NSS Unit, Mysore University).
October 1 - Tibetan Dance (Tibetans), Gotipuda (Orissa), Bizu Dance (Assam), Karagam Kavadi (Tamil Nadu), Group Dances (N.I.I.E, Mysore and Maharani's Arts College, Mysore).
October 2 - Burma Dance (Mynamar), Mayuri/Koli (Maharashtra), Loka Nrutya (Tamil Nadu), Goti Pava (Orissa), Group Dance and Traditional Dance (Yuvaraja's College, Mysore), Traditional Dance (Farooqia College, Mysore), Group Dance (Marimallappa Women's College, Mysore).
October 3 - Burma Dance (Mynamar), Bihu Dance (Assam), Chudaya Dance (Orissa), Sonal Garbha (Gujarat), Group Dance and Folk Dance (Maharani's Science College, Mysore), Traditional Dance (Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering, Mysore).
October 4 - Dandiya Raz (Gujarat), Ranapa Dance (Orissa), Karnataka Vaibhava (Department of Tourism), Group Dances (S.D.M.College, CAVA, Nataraja Women's College and Maharaja's College, Mysore).

Film Festival: In the week-long film festival chosen Kannada language films will be screened at Four Theatres in Mysore daily from 10-30 a.m. The formal inauguration will take place on September 27 at 12 noon at Sangam Theatre. Admission is by Rs.10 and Rs.5 tickets. The theatres and films being screened from September 26 to October 2 are:

Saraswathi Theatre: Sept. 26 : Katha Sangama, Sept. 27: Sparsha, Sept. 28; Gandhada Gudi, Sept. 29: Beladhingala Bale, Sept. 30: Vijayanagarada Veeraputra, Oct. 1: Appu and Oct. 2: Babruvahana.
Lakshmi Theatre: Sept. 26: Kariya, Sept. 27: A.K.-47, Sept. 28: Gandhada Gudi, Sept. 29: Kanuru Heggadathi, Sept. 30: Thayige Thakka Maga, Oct. 1: Yajamana, Oct. 2: Kanasugara.
Sangam Theatre: Sept. 26: Chandavalliya Thota, Sept. 27: Singaravva, Sept. 28: Naagara Haavu, Sept. 29: Thayi Saheba, Sept. 30: Trimurthi, Oct. 1: Premaloka, Oct. 2: Ravichandra.
Prabha Talkies: Sept. 26: Sandhya Raga, Sept.27: Bangarada Manushya, Sept. 28: Jeevana Chaitra, Sept. 29: Srikrishnadevaraya, Sept. 30: Bandhana, Oct 1: Kutumba, Oct. 2: Ranganayaki.

Dasara Exhibition: At Doddakere Grounds (opposite Palace Main Gate), Starts from September 27, Open in the evenings daily, Entry by tickets of Rs.10

Curzon Park: Horticulture Show (From September 26 to October 6), Daily 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Entry by tickets)

Rangayana: The Karnataka Government's Theatre Repertory has arranged special Art and Theatre Programmes at its premises. Programmes include Lectures by Art Critic Anil Kumar from Sept.25 for four days daily in the evenings; Art Exhibition from Sept.25 to Oct.6., Andhra Pradesh Handloom textiles exhibition and sale and Kondappalli Wooden Dolls exhibition from Oct. 2 to Oct. 6 and folk dance shows.

Air Show: Sky Diving by 'Air Devils' of Indian Air Force, Rehearsals on Sept. 29, Oct. 1, and Oct. 3. Final demonstration on Oct. 5 prior to the commencement of Dasara Procession, Palace Grounds.

Vijaya Dasami Procession: Procession of Goddess Chamundeswari starts from Palace premises with Nandi Dhwaja worship at 2-53 p.m., Admission for Palace enclosures is by tickets and invitations.

Chamundeswari Temple: Special Poojas will be conducted in the mornings and evenings at the Temple on the top of Chamundi Hills from September 27 to October 5. Rathothsava (Car Festival): On October 12 at about 7 a.m., Theppothsava (Floating Festival): On October 14 at 8 p.m.

The Karnataka Government is selling Rs.5,000 Gold Cards for Tourists to enable them to have free access to these and other programmes.