Draw of lots for Dasara Ahara Mela ends in chaos; officials suspend process following protest by applicants

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The draw of lots to allot stalls for the Dasara Ahara Mela was halted midway following protests by applicants at the Jaganmohan Palace auditorium in Mysuru on Thursday. | Photo Credit: M.A. Sriram

The draw of lots to allot stalls for the Dasara Ahara Mela descended into chaos at the Jaganmohan Palace auditorium on Thursday, forcing officials to suspend the process midway.

The Dasara Ahara Mela, to be organised at the Maharaja’s College grounds as part of Mysuru Dasara 2026, has evoked an unprecedented response, with the organisers receiving around 680-700 applications.

Officials led by Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) Additional Commissioner Veena, who is the Deputy Special Officer for the Dasara Ahara Mela, began the draw of lots in the presence of applicants who had gathered at the auditorium.

The officials proceeded with the lottery system despite opposition from the Mysuru Dasara Food Mela Vendors’ Association, which had urged the authorities to give preference to vendors who had participated in the food mela over the past 15 years.

Ms. Veena announced that stalls would be allotted to around 100 applicants, with another 20 stalls being kept in reserve.

However, after around 70-80 stalls had been allotted, several applicants objected to what they alleged was a lack of transparency in the process. They went up to the dais, raised objections over alleged favouritism and disrupted the proceedings.

As the situation could not be brought under control, the officials suspended the draw and left the venue.

The applicants subsequently marched to the MCC office on Sayyaji Rao Road to register their protest.

President of the Dasara Ahara Mela Vendors’ Association S. Nagaraju said the association had urged the authorities to scrap the lottery system and follow the procedure adopted in earlier editions of the food mela.

He alleged that some applicants had submitted multiple applications, which could undermine a fair selection process and reduce the chances of genuine vendors who had participated in previous Dasara food melas.

He said the authorities had responded positively to their representation.

Meanwhile, Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar has urged Deputy Commissioner Lakshmikant Reddy to ensure that the allocation of stalls for the Dasara Ahara Mela is conducted in a “fair, transparent and impartial” manner.