During Dasara, the brightly illuminated Mysore Palace and the entire city is a sight to behold. Various cultural and religious programs highlighting the dance, music and culture of the State of Karnataka are performed in front of the illuminated Palace.

Dasara celebrations commence with a pooja performed to the Goddess Chamundeshwari atop the Chamundi Hills in the presence of the Wodeyar royal couple, and state officials. The State Government arranges music, dance, and folk dance performances, flower and doll shows, wrestling and Food and Film festival.

The Dasara exhibition starts during the Dasara and continues for around two months. It is held at the Doddakere Maidan opposite to the Mysore Palace, and contains stalls selling articles like handicrafts, apparel, plastic and glass ware, food stalls, Channapatna toys and a play area with games and amusement rides.

This year the exhibition will be a plastic-free zone and vendors will be asked to serve edibles in paper plates and cups. Battery vehicles will also available for the elderly and the physically challenged.

On tenth day of Dasara, a grand Procession ( We the Mysoreans call it Jamboo Savari) is held which starts from Mysore Palace and ends in Bannimantap.The main attraction of the Dasara procession is the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari which is carried in a Golden howdah weighing over 750 kgs on top of an elephant. Colorful tableaux created by different State organizations participate in the procession. Musical bands belonging to State Polic, Folk dancers, decorated elephants, horses and camels also form a part of the procession.

The culminating program of the Dasara festivities is the Panjina Kavayatthu (torch-light parade) held on a grand note at the Bannimantap grounds on the outskirts of the city. Fire works display, daredevil stunts on motorcycles by a team of the Indian army and a Laser show are part of the program.