Mysuru: The traditional ‘pairing’ ceremony for the Dasara Nada Kusti, one of the key attractions of the Mysuru Dasara festival, was inaugurated on Sunday, marking the start of preparations for the 2026 wrestling tournament.
Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah inaugurated the event at the D. Devaraja Urs Multi-purpose Stadium, where the poster for the 2026 Dasara wrestling tournament was also released.
Speaking on the occasion, Siddaramaiah said wrestling was a traditional sport deeply rooted in the region and had a history as long and illustrious as the cultural heritage of Dasara.
The tournament aims to provide wrestlers with a platform to showcase their talent and encourage participation in the traditional sport. Dignitaries stressed that participation and sportsmanship were more important than winning or losing and wished all competitors success.
Krishnaraja MLA T.S. Srivatsa, Mysuru District Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baladandi, Additional Superintendent of Police Nagesh, Dasara Wrestling Committee Working President Dharmendra and Secretary Narasimhamurthy were among those present, along with other dignitaries, officials and wrestlers.
