The Mysuru police have imposed prohibitory orders around the Mahishasura statue atop Chamundi Hills during the ongoing state-sponsored Dasara festival, citing law-and-order concerns. The decision has drawn criticism from organisers of Mahisha Dasara, who allege discrimination against their celebration of the indigenous ruler’s legacy.
In an order issued on September 23, City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, barring gatherings around the statue from midnight of 24 September until 6 am on 25 September. Officials said the measure was necessary as differing opinions among organisations regarding Mahisha Dasara could trigger unrest, especially with thousands of devotees visiting Chamundi Hills during the festival.
The restrictions, which exempt residents of Chamundi Hills, effectively prevented Mahisha Mandalotsava Samiti and its supporters from holding their annual celebrations at the hilltop site. Instead, the organisers shifted their programme to Mysuru’s Town Hall on Wednesday, where three resolutions were passed, including a demand to rename the city as “Mahisuru” in honour of Mahishasura, described by them as a benevolent Buddhist ruler.
“Mahisha Dasara is not something that started recently—it has been celebrated by our ancestors for generations,” said former Mysuru Mayor Purushotham, part of the organising committee, adding, “When we say Dasara, people think only of Goddess Chamundeshwari. But Mahisha too deserves recognition. Our celebration is not against Chamundeshwari, but the state consistently ignores us.”
Prominent personalities such as Jnanaprakasha Swamiji, historian P.V. Nanjaraja Urs, and writer Prof. K.S. Bhagwan attended the Town Hall event. Speakers demanded that Mahishasura be accorded equal respect alongside Chamundeshwari and warned that the matter may be taken to court if their rights to celebrate continue to be denied.
Mainstream Hindu tradition reveres Goddess Chamundeshwari as Mahishasuramardini—the slayer of the demon Mahishasura—and attributes the city’s name to this legend. The Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hills, along with the Mahishasura statue, is central to the Nada Habba or state festival, celebrated since the era of the Vijayanagar Empire and later patronised by the Wadiyar dynasty.
However, groups like the Mahisha Mandalotsava Samiti counter that Mahishasura was no demon but an indigenous ruler whose memory was vilified. Some tribal communities across India similarly mourn his death during Durga Puja, calling it the unjust killing of their ancestor.
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“The idea of Mahishamardini is a fabricated tale,” Purushotham asserted. “No matter what anyone says, we will continue our celebration. We don’t need permission.”
The debate has also acquired a political and social justice dimension. Prof. K.S. Bhagwan accused the state of ignoring the majority community’s heritage, saying, “Ninety-seven per cent of us, including Lingayats, Kurubas and Vokkaligas, remain enslaved under Manusmriti traditions. The condition of women and Shudras is worsened by this mindset.”
Jnanaprakasha Swamiji, meanwhile, questioned the government’s allocation of resources. “The state spends Rs 46 crore on Dasara. Could they not even shower flowers on the Mahishasura statue? If they give us just Rs 1 crore, we can organise Mahisha Dasara with equal grandeur,” he said.
As Mysuru’s grand Dasara festivities continue, the row over Mahishasura’s legacy underscores the cultural and political contest over who gets to define the city’s history and traditions.
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