Every road will lead to Mysuru as the annual Nada Habba Dasara festival gets underway. Festivities began with a traditional puja at Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hills, where writer Nadoja Hampa Nagarajaiah paid tribute to Goddess Chamundeshwari. This nine-day event, drawing in tourists from around the world, will end with the grand Vijayadashami procession from Mysore Palace on October 12. After opening the festival, Nadoja Hampa Nagarajaiah, also known as Hampanna, fondly recalled his childhood memories of playing with dolls at home. He emphasized, “Dasara symbolizes Karnataka’s cultural richness and is joyously celebrated by all the state's people.” Scion of the Mysuru royal family and Member of Parliament, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, presided over the annual private darbar at Mysore Palace over all nine days of Navratri. Cultural highlights at Mysuru Dasara include performances by Ilaiyaraaja and A R Rahman at Yuva Dasara for the first time in Mysuru, along with a food fair, flower exhibition, and book fair. This year's film festival pays tribute to the late actor-filmmaker Dwarakish.