Bengaluru: Koppal Gavi Mutt pontiff, who’s won accolades as water-conservation warrior and social-welfare sage, will inaugurate the 2026 edition of 10-day Mysuru Dasara festivities starting on Oct 11.Chief minister DK Shivakumar informed the legislative assembly Thursday Abhinava Gavishiddheshwar Mahaswami, 49, has accepted the govt’s invitation. He said, “I spoke to the seer on Thursday morning and requested him to declare the state festival open.”The choice brings a prominent spiritual and social figure from North Karnataka to the centre of the state’s biggest cultural celebration. The Dasara concludes on Oct 21 with a grand Vijayadashami parade.Abhinava Gavishiddheshwar Mahaswami is the 18th pontiff and assumed charge in 2002. His ‘Jala Deekshe’ campaign in North Karnataka focused on reviving and desilting lakes and addressing severe water scarcity. Under his leadership, the mutt has continued its work in education, food and spiritual service, including providing free boarding and educational support to students from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.Koppal Gavi Mutt is known for the annual Gavisiddheshwara Jatre, popularly called ‘Ajjana Jatre’, one of the region’s largest religious gatherings. The mutt has traditionally used the occasion to recognise achievers from different walks of life.The selection of the seer for Mysuru Dasara comes after several names were discussed for the prestigious inauguration. Former cricketers Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid, Supreme Court judge Justice BV Nagarathna and Karnataka High Court judge M Nagaprasanna were among the names doing the rounds.
