Madikeri Dasara 2026, Coorg: The Four Karagas, the Night Mantapa Procession and Date Guide

Quick answer: Madikeri Dasara is the Navaratri and Vijayadashami festival of the hill town of Madikeri in Kodagu (Coorg), Karnataka. Its two signatures are the Karagas of four Shakti temples, which tour the town during Navaratri (Sunday 11 to Monday 19 October 2026), and the night procession of illuminated mantapas on Vijayadashami. The all-India Vijayadashami is Tuesday 20 October 2026 (Drik Panchang), while Mysuru observes it on Wednesday 21 October; the procession night in Madikeri follows local practice, so check official announcements.

Madikeri Dasara at a glance

The four Karagas: the Goddess goes round the town

Madikeri's Dasara begins with the Goddess. As commonly described, at the start of Navaratri the Karagas of four Shakti temples are prepared and brought out by their priests. A Karaga is a sacred pot, richly decorated, that represents the Goddess herself; the priest carrying it is understood to bear her presence. The four temples are commonly listed as:

• Dandina Mariamma temple
• Kundurumotte Chowdeshwari temple
• Kote Mariamma temple
• Kanchi Kamakshiamma temple

Through the Navaratri days, the Karagas travel around Madikeri, visiting localities and homes, where families offer puja, coconuts and flowers. The custom is understood as the Goddess coming out to bless and protect the town, in the same spirit as village Karaga and Mariamma festivals across southern Karnataka. Local accounts tie the beginning of Madikeri Dasara to these Karaga rites and to the town's history as the seat of the old Kodagu kings, though dates and details vary from telling to telling.

The night of the mantapas

The best-known part of Madikeri Dasara is the procession on the night of Vijayadashami, often called the Dashamantapa procession because, as traditionally described, it was formed by mantapas (tableaux) from ten of the town's temples; in recent years other committees have joined in. Each mantapa is a large decorated float carrying an illuminated scene from the Puranas, most often a goddess or god slaying a demon: Durga and Mahishasura, Chamundi, Narasimha and others.

What makes the mantapas special is the effort behind them. Temple committees and local volunteers work on them for weeks, building sets with moving figures, coloured lights and sound tracks, and each mantapa presents its scene in turn as it moves through the main roads of the town. The procession goes on through the night, and crowds from across Kodagu and beyond stay up to see the mantapas until the early hours.

As in Mysuru, the theme is victory of good over evil. The main Dasara story in Karnataka is the Goddess Chamundeshwari's victory over Mahishasura, told in the Devi Mahatmya, and the mantapas make that story visible on the streets of a hill town. Read Rama vs Ravana and Durga vs Mahishasura for both Dussehra legends.

Kodagu and its community traditions

Kodagu has a distinctive culture, shaped by the Kodava community and by the many other communities who have long lived in the district. The Kodavas are known for their own seasonal festivals, such as Kailpodh in autumn, Kaveri Sankramana at Talakaveri and Puttari, the harvest festival, as well as for the reverence for arms and ancestors that runs through their traditions. Madikeri Dasara, by contrast, is a festival of the whole town, in which temple communities, traders, families and volunteers of every background come together around the Karagas and mantapas.

Not far away, the town of Gonikoppal in South Kodagu also has a well-known Dasara with its own tableaux and cultural programmes. If you are in Coorg during Navaratri, you will find Dasara celebrated in many towns and villages.

Date note for Dasara 2026 in Karnataka

Drik Panchang gives the all-India Vijayadashami as Tuesday 20 October 2026. The Dashami tithi begins at 12:50 PM IST on 20 October and lasts until 2:11 PM IST on 21 October. Because Dashami prevails at sunrise on Wednesday 21 October, Mysuru keeps Vijayadashami and the Jamboo Savari on 21 October. For other Karnataka towns, the local temple and almanac decide, and some follow 21 October like Mysuru.

For Madikeri, that means you should rely on the dates announced by the town's Dasara committee and the Kodagu district administration rather than any generic calendar. For reference, the Vijay Muhurat on Tuesday 20 October 2026 in the nearest cities in our data (local time, Drik Panchang method) is:

Madikeri itself is not in our calculated list, so use a local panchang if you need the exact window there. More dates and timings are in the Dasara 2026 Karnataka guide and the Karnataka district-wise Dasara page.

Planning a visit

• Madikeri is a hill town reached by road, most commonly from Mysuru or Mangaluru; there is no railway station in the town.
• Book accommodation early: homestays and hotels fill up for Dasara night.
• October nights in Coorg can be cool and damp after the monsoon, so carry a jacket and rain cover.
• The procession is long and late; plan for little sleep and keep children close in the crowds.
• Respect the Karagas: when they pass, people stand aside and many offer worship. Ask before photographing rituals.
• Check road and traffic arrangements announced by the district for the procession night.

Many visitors combine Madikeri with Mysuru. See the Mysore Dasara 2026 guide and the Mysore Dasara day-by-day schedule.

For Kodagu families abroad

Families from Coorg living abroad often mark Dasara with a Navaratri puja at home, Ayudha Puja for tools and vehicles, and a visit to the local temple on Vijayadashami. If your temple keeps a Karnataka calendar, it may observe Vijayadashami on 20 or 21 October; follow its announcement. Sharing photos or videos of the mantapa procession and the story of the Karagas is a lovely way to pass the tradition on to children. For festival dates by country, see the Navratri 2026 NRI guide.

Frequently asked questions

When is Madikeri Dasara 2026?

Navaratri runs from Sunday 11 to Monday 19 October 2026 and the all-India Vijayadashami is Tuesday 20 October (Drik Panchang). Mysuru keeps Vijayadashami on Wednesday 21 October because Dashami prevails at sunrise that day, and some other Karnataka towns follow the same day. The night of the mantapa procession in Madikeri is fixed by local temple and Dasara committee practice, so check the Kodagu district and committee announcements for 2026.

What are the Karagas of Madikeri Dasara?

The Karagas are sacred pots representing the Goddess, carried by priests from four Shakti temples of Madikeri. As commonly described, they are prepared at the start of Navaratri and taken around the town during the festival, visiting homes and localities so that people can offer worship.

Which are the four Karaga temples of Madikeri?

They are commonly listed as the Dandina Mariamma, Kundurumotte Chowdeshwari, Kote Mariamma and Kanchi Kamakshiamma temples. Local practice and the exact order of rituals are best confirmed with the temples or the Dasara committee.

What is the Dashamantapa procession?

On Vijayadashami night, temples and committees of Madikeri bring out large illuminated tableaux called mantapas, each depicting a scene from Hindu mythology, often a goddess slaying a demon. They move through the town through the night, with lights, sound and moving figures, and the festivities usually go on until dawn.

How is Madikeri Dasara different from Mysuru Dasara?

Mysuru Dasara is a royal state festival centred on the palace and the Jamboo Savari elephant procession. Madikeri Dasara is a community festival of a hill town, centred on the Karagas of the Shakti temples and the night procession of illuminated mantapas.

Is Madikeri Dasara suitable for families?

Yes, but the main procession is late at night and crowded. Plan accommodation early, dress warmly for a Coorg night, and keep children close in the crowds.

Editor's note (9 October 2026)

This guide was written in October 2026. Navaratri and Vijayadashami dates are from Drik Panchang for India, and the Mysuru date reflects Dashami at sunrise on 21 October. The Karaga temples and the mantapa procession are described as commonly told; local practice, the number of mantapas and the exact procession night are set by the temples and the Dasara committee each year. We do not give schedules or routes; check official Kodagu announcements.

Related guides

• Dasara 2026 in Karnataka: date and Vijay Muhurat
• Mysore Dasara 2026 guide
• Mangaluru Dasara 2026: Kudroli and Pili Vesha
• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026: date, muhurat and meaning
• The story of Goddess Durga and Mahishasura