Processions, Routes, and Resonance: Mapping Intangible Heritage Networks in Mysuru

The ceremonial processions in Mysuru’s (India, Karnataka) Dussehra procession provide an example of the importance of intangible cultural heritage in shaping public spaces. This research identifies a new class of urban infrastructure: ceremonial route systems or "Processional Corridors," and evaluates them as complex social and spatial systems. Using qualitative and quantitative approaches (archival data participant mapping with ritual leaders (n = 47) observational study of the same corridor over time and semi-structured interviews with vendors and residents (n = 82) collected from Jan to March of 2024 and 2025, this study provides insight into important spatial/temporal aspects of the corridor: arcades create stop-go conditions affecting traffic flow squares and choultries act as buffers for people to sit/stand/shop observation/interview findings suggest that well-designed signs to help find one's way along with trained stewards reduce crowd turbulence, and fair/transparent vendor selection processes increase vendor revenue and decrease territorial disputes among vendors. Situated at the intersection of crowd dynamics research, mass gathering health literature, and informal economy studies, this research presents a novel management model for processional corridors – "A Processional Corridor Management Model" – that includes evidence-based design standards tiered intervention levels and context-sensitive capital improvements. The findings of this research have implications for managing crowds safely and sustaining traditions related to processional movement in urban areas around the world.