News & Context

A petition tried to block writer Banu Mushtaq from inaugurating the Mysuru Dasara celebrations, arguing that the opening at the Chamundeshwari Temple was a religious act reserved for a Hindu dignitary. 

The Supreme Court dismissed the plea and reminded everyone of the Preamble’s ideals—liberty of thought and faith, equality, and fraternity—and of India’s secular character. Below is a broad, coherent, and easy-to-read note that merges overlapping ideas, expands key parts, and shows how the law, administration, and society can move in the same direction.

The core issue, the Court’s logic, and why it matters 

What the dispute was really about:
Festivals like Mysuru Dasara have two intertwined layers:

• a public, State-run layer (for example, ribbon-cutting, flagging off, cultural shows, traffic and safety plans, tourism promotion), and
  
• a religious layer (for example, rituals inside the temple performed by the priests as per custom).
  

The petitioner wanted the public inauguration to be tied to religious identity. The Supreme Court separated the two layers and said: the public part is a civic act by the government, so no citizen can be excluded only for their religion. The religious part continues to be performed by the religious functionaries as per tradition.

Why the Preamble matters here:

The Preamble is not a slogan. It is a compass. It says India is secular and it sets the goals of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. Courts read the rest of the Constitution in the light of these values. When a public ceremony is organised by the State, equality and neutrality must guide the choice of chief guest. That is what the Court applied.

The larger message:

• Public functions are for all citizens.
  
• Religious worship is for the faithful as per that faith’s rules, subject to dignity and equality.
  
• The two can co-exist without either swallowing the other.
  

The constitutional frame 

• Equality before law (Article 14) and equal public opportunities (Article 16) mean the government cannot prefer or reject someone only because of religion.
  
• Freedom of religion (Articles 25–26) means people are free to follow and run their religious practices, subject to public order, health, and morality.
  
• Indian secularism is equal respect for all faiths and State neutrality—the State neither becomes the sponsor of one religion nor turns hostile to any religion.
  
• Basic structure idea (from landmark cases) treats secularism and the guiding role of the Preamble as foundational. They cannot be set aside by any policy or action.
  

• Preamble: The Constitution’s opening that states our national values and direction.
  
• Secularism (Indian sense): The State keeps a fair distance from all religions, treats all with equal respect, and steps in only to protect rights and dignity.
  
• Essential religious practice: A test courts have used to see what is central to a religion and what is a later addition. This helps balance freedom of religion with other rights.
  

Mysuru Dasara: culture, devotion, and the State’s role 

Mysuru Dasara is Karnataka’s state festival. It blends cultural pageantry (palace lighting, music, dance, sports, exhibitions, tourism drives) with religious devotion to Goddess Chamundeshwari (temple rituals, offerings, and prayers). In modern administration, the government coordinates the city-wide festival, funds logistics, manages crowds, invites a chief guest for the civic opening, and promotes tourism and livelihoods. The temple priests perform the rituals. Both layers run together every year.

This practical arrangement has three advantages:

1. Clarity of roles: Government runs the public programme; priests conduct the rituals.
   
2. Inclusion: The city-wide celebration belongs to all residents and visitors, not just to one faith.
   
3. Continuity: Rituals stay intact inside the temple; the civic celebration remains open and welcoming.
   

How the order helps society beyond one festival 

• Reduces social friction: People know that public spaces remain open and ritual spaces remain respected.
  
• Grows tourism and jobs: A confident, inclusive festival draws more visitors, creates seasonal work, and supports local crafts.
  
• Builds trust: The State shows it is fair to everyone. Religious communities see that their rites are safe.
  
• Gives a ready template for other large events—Ganesh immersion routes, Christmas fairs, Muharram processions, Kumbh Mela arrangements, Urs gatherings, mosque-temple-church festivals tied to city programmes.
  

Action points for administrators

• Put the split (civic vs ritual) in the official order.
  
• Choose chief guests for civic parts using clear criteria: public service, artistic excellence, social contribution.
  
• Leave rituals to temple trusts and priests, recorded in a brief note.
  
• Create an incident map (crowd, health, fire, weather) and a rumour-control cell to counter misinformation.
  
• Share a post-event report: footfall, local income impact, waste handled, lessons learned.
  

Addressing common doubts 

“Does secularism mean the State must stay away from festivals?”
No. The State may support festivals for culture, tourism, safety, and city management. But it must do so without religious favour.

“Can a non-Hindu inaugurate a festival that begins at a temple?”
Yes, for the civic inauguration the person’s religion is irrelevant. The ritual worship is still done by the priests as per custom.

“Is this against religious freedom?”
No. Religious freedom stays intact inside the ritual space. The Court only said that public functions cannot exclude citizens due to religion.

“What if a ritual itself violates equality or dignity?”
If a practice causes harm or discrimination, the Constitution allows the State and courts to protect dignity and equality while respecting genuine faith.

The bigger constitutional picture 

Over decades, the Supreme Court has made three steady points:

1. The Preamble guides everything: Justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity are not decorative words; they steer how we read all other parts.
   
2. Secularism is foundational: The State cannot wear any one religion on its sleeve, nor can it be hostile to religion. It must be fair and neutral.
   
3. Harmony of rights: Freedom of religion and equality co-exist. When they clash, courts seek a middle path that upholds dignity and fairness while preserving genuine faith.
   

The Banu Mushtaq–Mysuru Dasara dispute fits perfectly into this settled approach.

Exam hook

Key takeaways

• Public inaugurations are civic acts; no exclusion based on religion.
  
• Ritual worship is religious; priests and customs lead it, within dignity and equality.
  
• The Preamble and secularism together form the guiding light: fair State, free faith.
  
• A written split of programmes into civic vs ritual prevents confusion and conflict.
  

UPSC Mains question

“Using the Mysuru Dasara controversy, explain how the Preamble helps resolve tensions between secular State functions and religious rituals. Propose an administrative template for Indian cities that protects equality, respects faith, and prevents disputes.”
(Answer in 200–250 words; include a brief three-step protocol and measurable outcomes.)

UPSC Prelims question

Which of the following best reflects Indian secularism as applied to public festivals?
(a) The State must avoid all religious festivals entirely.
(b) The State may support public festivals but must not allow any religious ritual.
(c) The State may organise civic parts of festivals in a neutral and inclusive manner while religious rituals continue as per tradition, subject to dignity and equality.
(d) Religious identity must decide who inaugurates any festival held near a place of worship.
Answer: (c)

One-line wrap

Let the State be fair and open to all; let faith be free and dignified—this is the Preamble in action.