The Mysuru Dasara procession drew lakhs of residents and visitors on Wednesday, with the five-kilometre Jamboo Savari featuring a new lead elephant, participation by performers from other states and an open bus carrying Kannada film personalities.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar began the Vijayadashami procession by offering prayers to the Nandi flag at the Balarama Gate of Mysuru Palace at about 1.36pm. He later entered the palace courtyard in an open vehicle with ministers, as crowds gathered for the annual event.
The procession moved along the Rajamarga after 50 folk performance groups and 53 tableaux had passed through. At about 4.30pm, Shivakumar offered flowers to the Chamundeshwari festival idol placed in the 750-kg golden howdah carried by Prashantha, formally setting the Jamboo Savari in motion.
Prashantha, an experienced elephant that has participated in Dasara for 18 years, carried the golden howdah for the first time. Abhimanyu, which had carried the howdah six times, took part as the nishane elephant. The chief minister also offered floral tribute to Abhimanyu.
Prashantha was accompanied by Kaveri as a kumki elephant, with Roopa joining the procession later in the same role. Gopi participated as the naubat elephant, while Mahendra, Srirama, Srikanta, Chaitra, Lakshmi, Sugriva and Ekalavya walked as salane elephants. The procession reached Bannimantap in two hours.
The event included 21 rounds of ceremonial gunfire and the national anthem played by the police band. Crowds lined both sides of the road from the morning to watch the procession and the Chamundeshwari idol. After reaching Bannimantap, the celebrations continued with a torchlight parade and a drone show attended by Governor Sudha Yadav, the chief minister and members of the state Cabinet.
This year’s procession also included several firsts. Kannada film actors and technicians travelled in an open bus, waving to and greeting spectators. Former cricketer Anil Kumble and other prominent sports personalities were among the participants.
Chief ministers from other states were allowed to participate in the floral tribute ceremony for the first time, according to the report. Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy offered flowers to Chamundeshwari. The ceremony was also attended by District Minister Yatindra Siddaramaiah, Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj V. Tangadagi, royal family member and MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, Usha Shivakumar, Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy and City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar.
For the first time, cultural groups and tableaux from other states were included in the Jamboo Savari. Kerala’s Poothan and Thira performance and a boat-shaped tableau were presented, while Tamil Nadu contributed a Karagattam troupe and a tableau themed around its living traditions. A Tibetan group also participated with both a performance troupe and a tableau.
A naval tableau, along with naval and Army bands, joined the procession. Thirty-three ambassadors and representatives from countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Israel watched the event from specially arranged seating. The celebrations concluded at Bannimantap after the torchlight parade and drone display.
