The cultural heart of Karnataka, Mysuru, embraced the arrival of 2026 with a beautiful symphony of grand celebration and deep devotion. The city witnessed thousands of its residents and visitors participating in events that spanned from a spectacular public festival at the iconic Mysuru Palace to serene early-morning temple visits, setting a harmonious tone for the year ahead.
Midnight Magic at the Illuminated Mysuru Palace
The Mysuru Palace stood as the undisputed epicenter of the New Year's Eve celebrations, attracting a massive gathering from all corners of the city. From as early as 7 pm on Wednesday, people started converging on the palace grounds, eager to secure the best spots for the night's events. The Mysuru Palace Board organized a delightful program where the melodious tunes of the Mysuru Police Band captivated the audience in the lead-up to the midnight moment.
The architectural marvel was bathed in spectacular lights between 11:55 pm and 12:20 am, providing a breathtaking canvas for the countdown. As the clock struck twelve, the skies above the palace erupted with eco-friendly fireworks, a dazzling display that lasted until about 12:15 am and was met with roaring cheers and applause from the joyous crowd.
Ensuring the safety and smooth flow of the event, elaborate security arrangements were in place. Senior police officials, including DCP (L&O) Bindu Mani, were present on-site throughout the celebrations, overseeing crowd management until the conclusion.
A Spiritual Dawn: Temples Thronged with Devotees
As the night of revelry transitioned into the first morning of the year, the focus in Mysuru shifted seamlessly to spiritual observance. From the break of dawn, thousands of devotees, including a significant number of tourists, flocked to the city's prominent temples to pray for peace, prosperity, and good health in 2026.
Long queues formed as early as 6 am at major shrines. Key temples that saw a huge influx included:
- The revered Chamundeshwari Temple atop Chamundi Hill.
- Yoganarasimhaswamy Temple in Vijayanagar.
- Lakshmi Venkataramaswamy Temple in Vontikoppal.
- Datta Venkateshwara Swamy Temple at Avadootha Datta Peetam (Ganapathy Sachidananda Ashram).
To facilitate orderly darshan, most temples had arranged separate queues for women, men, and senior citizens. Adding a sweet touch to the festivities, the Yoganarasimhaswamy temple distributed nearly 2 lakh laddoos as New Year prasadam. The distribution, which began at 4 am and continued late into the evening, was personally overseen by Bhashyam Swami, who offered the sweets to devotees.
Devotion Beyond City Limits
The spiritual fervour extended beyond Mysuru city to famous temples in the surrounding region. Significant crowds were also reported at the Srikanteshwara temple in Srirangapatna, the Nimishamba temple at Ganjam near Srirangapatna, the Nanjundeshwara temple in Nanjangud, and the Male Mahadeshwara temple atop MM Hills. Police deployment was adequate across all major locations to manage the large gatherings and ensure everyone's safety.
This dual celebration—combining communal joy at a historic palace with personal spiritual reflection at ancient temples—perfectly encapsulated Mysuru's unique identity as a city where tradition and festivity coexist gracefully, offering a perfect start to the New Year.
