Every year, as October arrives, Mysore begins to glow. For ten days, this city turns into a living festival that celebrates light, heritage and faith. Mysore Dasara is more than four centuries old, and yet it feels fresh every time the palace lights up. There is something about those golden bulbs, the sound of drums and the fragrance of jasmine that makes it all come alive again.
On the first evening of Dasara, the royal family performs the traditional rituals inside the palace. The sky echoes with the sound of a 21-gun salute. And then, as if on cue, the Mysore Palace bursts into light. Nearly one lakh bulbs trace its walls and towers. The whole city joins in, with streets stretching for more than 130 kilometres covered in soft golden light. It feels like Mysore itself has turned into a symbol of good winning over evil.
This year, among the lights and music stood something new, the Mahindra BE 6. It was not there as a showpiece or sponsor banner. It was there as part of the story. The BE 6 carried its own kind of light. The kind that glows quietly. The kind that comes from within.
The BE6 is an electric SUV. But it does not shout about being electric. It simply belongs in a place that celebrates energy and life. Inside the car, the “Groove Me” function turns the cabin into a moving stage. Lights pulse with your music, colours change with rhythm, and the mood of the festival follows you wherever you go. Then there is the wide glass roof filled with little star-like dots, and the option to choose from millions of ambient colours. You can make the cabin feel like morning, evening or the royal glow of Dasara nights.
As the celebrations unfold, the streets fill with the most iconic part of the festival. The elephants. For generations, they have been the heart of the Dasara procession. During the time of the Wodeyar kings, elephants were chosen through the Khedda operation. They were picked not just for size or strength, but for calmness and character. Each elephant trained for months before being trusted with the golden howdah.
That legacy still lives on. Today, too, the selection is done with care. This year, the majestic Abhimanyu leads the parade. On his back rests a golden throne weighing about 750 kilos. Yet he walks with steady grace. His power feels effortless. His presence commands silence even in the middle of cheers.
The BE 6 seems to reflect that same quality. Under its sleek design sits a 79 kilowatt hour battery. It produces 282 horsepower. There is strength, but no arrogance. Power that does not shout. It glides through the city the way Abhimanyu walks through the palace gates. Strong, patient and sure.
But Dasara is not just about grandeur. It is also about the coming together of people and cultures. On one side of the palace grounds you hear classical music. On another, there is a wrestling match that draws hundreds. Nearby, children run with sugar dolls and balloons while vendors sell crispy bondas and dosas hot from the tawa. The air itself feels alive.
The BE 6 fits into this energy because it too celebrates variety. Its wide screen combines everything a person could want on a drive. Music, films, sports, navigation and even creativity tools. It is a single space that brings many worlds together. Much like Mysore Dasara, where art, sport and devotion meet under one sky.
Look up during the festival and you might see the Sarang team of the Indian Air Force drawing patterns with their helicopters. Or the Suryakiran team painting trails of smoke across the sky. These shows remind you that precision can be beautiful. The BE 6 seems inspired by that same spirit. Its controls are designed like those of an aircraft, with a lever that feels like it belongs in a jet cockpit. Every switch and curve reflects that same balance of control and elegance.
As night falls, the real magic begins. The Mysore Palace shines again, and the entire city glows. From Chamundi Hill to the far ends of the market, light stretches across every road. People gather near the palace gates to take photos, sing songs, and simply stand in silence at the sight of it all. Among the glow, the BE6 adds its own quiet shimmer. Pixel lights sparkle at the front. The cabin glows with a soft hue. It feels at home among the lamps and lanterns.
Both the festival and the car share the same message. They carry legacy forward. Dasara reminds the world of light triumphing over darkness. The BE6 carries that idea into the age of electric mobility. One celebrates faith. The other celebrates progress. Both exist to show that light never fades; it just changes form.
Mahindra’s idea behind the BE 6 is not just to build another modern SUV. It is to build something that belongs to India’s future without losing touch with its soul. The electric motor keeps the air above Mysore clean. The design respects tradition but speaks the language of tomorrow. It is a car that does not just move people but reminds them that every step forward should also protect what lies behind.
When the fireworks end and the crowd begins to leave, Mysore slowly returns to its quiet rhythm. The lights dim, but the warmth lingers. In that gentle silence, the BE6 stands as a symbol of what is next. A car that carries light, but also meaning. A reminder that technology and culture can move together, that progress is not about replacing stories but adding new ones.
Every October, Mysore will light up again. The palace will glow, the elephants will march, and the streets will sing. And somewhere among them, another BE6 might pass by. Silent, confident, and carrying the same message that the festival has carried for centuries, light always finds its way forward.