Dasara or Dussehra is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navratri every year. This year it fell on Friday, October 19th. A million + people from all over the world travel to Mysore (Mysuru) for this every year. From Wikipedia: “The Hindu festival of Dasara, Navratri and Vijayadashami celebrates the victory of good over evil. It was the day in the Hindu legends when Goddess Chamundeshwari (Durga) killed the demon Mahishasura.^[4] Mahishasura is the demon whose slaying by the Goddess gave the city the name Mysuru.”  And this is why this is celebrated by millions of people in Mysore.

Read more here. Enjoy my photos.

Marty, Yanky, and Himanshu as royalty.

Part of the group in Mysore – walking to dinner.

Marty took this but I wanted to post it.

All the vehicles in most of India are decorated for Dasara.

All the vehicles in most of India are decorated for Dasara.

Dinner at the Royal Orchid in Mysore.

Dasara lights in Mysore.

The Royal Orchid, Mysore. I recommend this place for a lovely dinner.

The Royal Orchid, Mysore. I recommend this place for a lovely dinner.

Dasara lights in Mysore.

Dasara lights in Mysore.

Dasara lights in Mysore.

Dasara lights in Mysore.

Dasara lights in Mysore.

Dasara lights in Mysore.

Dasara lights in Mysore.

Dasara lights in Mysore.

Emmalina and I on the bus for Mysore.

Emmalina had placed her big heavy blue bag in this seat. A man walked up to me and made me move it onto the floor so he could sit down. Kind of funny since it was the only seat with a bag in it at the time.

The melons cut up – sprinkled with red – outside houses and buildings during Dasara.

Inside the Public Health Research Institute of India – the beautiful institution that hosted some of us in Mysore during Dasara.

Inside the Public Health Research Institute of India – the beautiful institution that hosted some of us in Mysore during Dasara.

Inside the Public Health Research Institute of India – the beautiful institution that hosted some of us in Mysore during Dasara.

The Royal Orchid, Mysore. I recommend this place for a lovely dinner.

Decorated autos during Dasara.

Jamboo Savari

Men dressed as Mahishasura for the procession.

Jamboo Savari

Fulbright Student Researchers in Mysore for Dasara.

Fulbright Student Researchers in Mysore for Dasara.

Three white lines w/ red dot – Hindi markings. They were on everything during Dasara.

Bangles and bracelets.

Cutie pie sitting next to me during the procession.

Cutie pie sitting next to me during the procession.

Cutie pies sitting next to me during the procession.

Cutie pie sitting next to me during the procession.

All the girls wear beautiful bangles.

Waiting for the procession.

Parade snacks

Vendors before the procession begins.

Pre-procession entertainment.

Hector and I made a new friend.

Vendors before the procession begins.

Vendors before the procession begins.

Decorated autos during Dasara.

New friend.

All the vehicles in most of India are decorated for Dasara.

New friends.

The Golden Howdah

Jamboo Savari

Men dressed as Mahishasura for the procession.

Men dressed as Mahishasura for the procession.

Men dressed as Mahishasura for the procession.

Men dressed as Mahishasura for the procession.

Jamboo Savari

Jamboo Savari

Jamboo Savari

Jamboo Savari

Jamboo Savari

Jamboo Savari

Jamboo Savari

Jamboo Savari

Jamboo Savari

Jamboo Savari

Jamboo Savari

Jamboo Savari

Nicole being cute.

Parklane Hotel beer garden

Behl snack in Mysore.

I love the different items that people hang from their license plate. The Hindu religion is so festive.

Lots of people at the parade.

Lots of people at the parade.

Jamboo Savari

The group at dinner.

Public toilet in India. I was so grateful to find this. They can be hard to come by at times.

Public toilet in India. I was so grateful to find this. They can be hard to come by at times.

Public toilet in India. I was so grateful to find this. They can be hard to come by at times.

Playing around.

Marty and Himanshu as royalty.