Karnataka - Mysore   

First batch of elephants arrives

Special Correspondent

`Suvarna Karnataka' Dasara will be a grand affair, announces Minister

MYSORE: The group of elephants led by the majestic Balarama, which gives the Dasara procession in Mysore its regal splendour, was accorded a traditional welcome on the premises of the palace here on Friday.

The first batch of six elephants was received at the Jayamartanda Gate with the police band playing. Bharatha, Gajendra, Kanthi, Revathi and Prashant, led by Balarama began their march from Aranya Bhavan and reached the Jayamartanda Gate where officials and elected representatives performed arathi. The elephants were fed with sugarcane, jaggery, coconut and bananas and priests invoked divine benediction with Vedic chants for the smooth conduct of the Dasara festivities.

The six elephants were then taken into the palace premises while the police band played "My Regiment." The gentle giants from the jungle camp will stay on the palace premises and undergo rigorous training until the completion of the Dasara festivities.

Earlier, the elephants marched through the main thoroughfares of the city on their way to the palace. Motorists made way for the slow convoy and traffic came to a standstill near traffic lights and at intersections.

The arrival of the elephants, along with their mahouts and kavadis, signals the beginning of the preparations for Dasara, which will begin on September 23.

After the rituals were over, the elephants retired to the palace stables where they will rest for two days till the end of the Ganesha Chaturthi festival. Then begins the preparations for the `Jumboo Savari' scheduled for October 2, which marks the culmination of Dasara. The second batch of elephants will join them soon.

A grand affair

Minister for Housing and Mysore district in-charge D.T. Jayakumar later told presspersons that the Dasara celebrations in this year of `Suvarna Karnataka' would be a grand affair.

The Government had sanctioned Rs. 3 crore for the festivities, of which Rs. 75 lakh had already been released and officials had been instructed to complete all the preparations ahead of time, he said.

"Thirteen Dasara committees will be constituted by Monday, and the officials have been instructed to meet frequently and tie up the loose ends," Mr. Jayakumar said.

He announced that a national wrestling competition would be held this year to mark the festivities and a kite-flying contest would be introduced.

A display of fireworks would be held atop Chamundi Hills on the inaugural night for the first time, the Minister said. Hitherto, the firework display was held during the culmination of the festivities after the Torchlight Parade at Bannimantap.

Publicity blitz planned

The Government would launch a publicity blitz to draw tourists from across the country for the Dasara festivities, he added.

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