The Mysore Dussehra Exhibition Ground is situated on the bed of a large lake below Chamundi Hill. The grounds are opposite the main gate (Jayamarthanda Gate) of the Mysore Palace. The exhibition was started by Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar of Mysore in 1880 with the sole purpose of introducing contemporary developments to the people. The Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA) has now been entrusted with the task of conducting the exhibition.
Mysore is famous for Dussehra celebrations. It is the most traditional festival celebrated there. The Mysore Dussehra Exhibition is an annual exhibition held at the exhibition grounds opposite the Mysore Palace. The grounds are the perfect venue for a vast Dussehra display.
Mysore Dussehra Show Ground is about 142 km from Bangalore and 119 km from Madikeri. It is about 43 km from Mandya city and only 01 km from Mysore city. It is 02 km from Mysore railway station.
The Dussehra show is our country’s heritage and something we are proud of. Be it any particular city, we are proud of it. However this tradition is performed only during a certain period of the year and people relive it until the same happens next year. During certain periods of the year, heritage is displayed in the form of fairs or exhibitions.
We have all seen the huge gatherings commonly called ‘melas’ or `jatre’ in villages. It is a program and entertainment platform to provide entertainment to the people and showcase their talent in the form of various games where people across the villages. During the Dussehra festival fairs or fairs are held in the city of Mysore on a similar concept. This fair is known as the Mysore Dussehra Exhibition.
The Mysore Dussehra celebration is a symbol of victory over evil spirits. The show begins during the Dussehra festival celebrated in the month of October. The fair, which attracts a significant crowd of thousands, has numerous stalls ranging from clothes, cosmetics, plastic items, kitchenware and eatables. There will also be a play area with attractions like giant wheels, toy trains, ferris wheel to keep people entertained. There are also stalls set up by various government departments to showcase their achievements in projects undertaken by them.
The Seri-Culture section stall is informative and practical. It is located before the above mentioned recreation area. The entire process of making silk from live silkworms and the equipment used in the industry are displayed. There are mulberry plants in the yard, the leaves of which are food for silkworms.
The Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA) was handed over the responsibility of running the exhibition from 1987. Later it was held under the Department of Culture, Information and Tourism and the Department of Youth Affairs.
The north side is displayed with stuffed animals in a forest-like setting. It is a permanent division of the Forest Department. Large trees are grown to simulate a real forest. And through this section there is a winding path and a low light path. It is established every year by the state tourism department to showcase the forests of the state with a view to tourism future. It is especially mesmerizing if you visit this place after sunset.
The State Archaeological Department has a permanent pavilion on the north-eastern side of the exhibition grounds. On display are fine photographs of archaeological artefacts, mostly carvings and monuments.
