During the annual Nada Habba Dasara festival in Mysuru, all roads will lead to the city. The festivities commenced with a traditional puja at Chamundeshwari Temple atop Chamundi Hills, where writer Nadoja Hampa Nagarajaiah paid respects to the presiding deity, Goddess Chamundeshwari, with floral tributes. This nine-day celebration, which draws tourists from around the world, will culminate with the grand Vijayadashami procession starting from Mysore Palace on October 12. Following the festival's inauguration, Nadoja Hampa Nagarajaiah, also known as Hampanna, fondly recalled the childhood joy of playing with dolls at home. He emphasized that Dasara highlights Karnataka's rich cultural diversity and is widely embraced by the state's people. Scion of the Mysuru royal family and Member of Parliament, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, conducted the annual private darbar at Mysore Palace over all nine days of Navratri. Visitors to Mysuru Dasara can look forward to various cultural events, including the first-time performances by Ilaiyaraaja and A R Rahman at Yuva Dasara, a food mela, a flower show, and a book mela. This year's film festival will honor the late actor-filmmaker Dwarakish.