The fall Mysuru Dasara celebrates the victory of the Hindu goddess Chamundeshwari (Durga) over the demon Mahishasura, the event from which Mysuru's name [formerly Mysore] is derived. At the time of this image in the early 20th century it had been celebrated for about 300 years in the state. Note the dramatic angle with which Wiele, a German photographer based in South India, has framed the scene, with a long dark interior stretching into the background above the dais.
Notwithstanding the printed caption, R. Raja Chandra writes in that instead the image depicts "the birthday celebrations of Maharaja and his younger Brother the Yuvaraja which fall on June 4th and 5th. Venue is Jagan Mohan Palace, Mysore as at that time the main palace was still under construction after the old palace was destroyed in a fire."