Mysuru dasara expenses revealed after 7 months, total spending touches ₹43 crore
Mysuru: The Mysuru Dasara expenditure details for last year have finally been released by the Mysuru District Administration, nearly seven months after the grand festival concluded. According to official figures, a total of ₹43 crore was spent to organise the iconic state festival.
The delayed disclosure has sparked discussions, as Dasara is one of Karnataka’s most celebrated cultural events, drawing thousands of visitors from across the country and abroad. Officials stated that the expenses were incurred across multiple events and infrastructure-related activities to ensure the festival’s grandeur.
A major share of the expenditure went towards Yuva Dasara, which alone accounted for ₹16 crore. Civil works related to infrastructure and arrangements cost ₹6 crore, while the air show component required ₹55 lakh.
On the revenue side, the administration revealed that a total of ₹45.3 crore was generated through various sources. The state government contributed ₹30 crore, while the Mysuru Urban Development Authority provided ₹10 crore. Additionally, ₹1.81 crore was raised through sponsorships and ₹3.21 crore from ticket sales.
The breakdown of expenses highlights the scale of the celebrations. Welcome arrangements and venue management accounted for ₹6 crore. The grand Dasara procession was organised at a cost of ₹1.60 crore, while the torchlight parade (Panjina Kavayatu) required ₹1.48 crore. Tableau presentations were conducted with a modest budget of ₹7 lakh.
Special events such as Raitha Dasara saw an allocation of ₹52 lakh, while cultural programmes under Cultural Dasara cost ₹3 crore. Fine arts events received ₹22 lakh, and poetry sessions (Kavigoshti) were organised with an expenditure of ₹70 lakh.
Officials defended the spending, stating that Mysuru Dasara is not just a festival but a cultural showcase of Karnataka’s heritage and tradition. The investments, they said, help boost tourism and local economy.
However, questions are being raised over the delay in releasing the financial details, with calls for greater transparency in public spending.
