Rare lunar shift extends Mysuru Dasara to 11 days after 400 years

In an extraordinary turn of events, this year’s Mysuru Dasara festival will be celebrated over a span of 11 days instead of the traditional nine. This unusual extension, occurring for the first time in approximately 400 years, is the result of a rare lunar alignment that causes Panchami (the fifth day of the lunar cycle) to appear on two consecutive days, September 26 and 27. Traditionally, Navaratri begins the day after Mahalaya Amavasya, which falls on September 21 this year, setting the start date for September 22.

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With the overlapping Panchami dates, the festival is now being referred to as “Dasharathri,” signifying 10 nights and 11 days of celebration. This anomaly has generated widespread interest and raised questions about its rarity in the festival’s recorded history.

Complicating matters further is the discrepancy between the public Panchang (calendar) and the Mysuru royal family's traditional calendar. The Wadiyar dynasty has historically adhered strictly to age-old rituals, which sometimes differ from government-declared schedules. This divergence has led to uncertainty about the date of the grand finale, Jamboo Savari, the iconic elephant procession that marks the festival’s end.

The state government is yet to officially confirm the date for this procession. If both Chaturthi days are considered a single day, Maha Navami will fall on October 1, pushing Vijayadashami to the same day. However, if Navaratri starts on September 23, as some suggest, then October 2 will continue to serve as Vijayadashami. A final decision will be made soon in a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.