<p>Veeranahosahalli: Forest department officials arranged one of the grandest 'Gajapayana' celebrations with the participation of the biggest ever crowd so far at Veeranahosahalli, near Nagarahole Tiger Reserve (NTR) in Hunsur taluk of Mysuru district, on Monday. </p><p>Minister for Environment, Ecology and Forests Eshwar B Khandre launched the journey of the first batch of nine Dasara elephants (out of 14) from various forest camps towards the heritage city of Mysuru, for training for this year's Dasara Jamboo Savari procession with a puja. With this, the preparations for Mysuru Dasara have gained momentum. </p><p>The ministers, people's representatives and officials offered floral benediction to the elephants. They pampered the pachyderms by feeding them with jaggery, sugarcane, fruits like bananas and eatables like chakkuli, kodbale, kajjaaya, rave unde, and karji kaayi. Mysuru Palace Ganesha temple priest S V Prahlad Rao performed the puja.</p><p>As many as 45 traditionally attired women welcomed the elephants with 'Poorna Kumbha'. The elephants marched amid a mini-procession of folk cultural troupes and cheering crowd till the lorries near the stage event. </p>.Gajapayana 2025: First 'Arjuna' award worth Rs 10,000 presented to caretakers of Dasara elephant 'Bheema'.<p>Khandre honoured the <em>mahouts</em> and <em>kavadis</em>, the caretakers of all nine Dasara jumbos, and invited them formally for the Dasara. Performance by children of tribal hamlets studying in Girijana Ashrama School was another attraction.</p><p>MLA Tanveer Sait, Vice-President of Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority Pushpa Amarnath, Doddahejjuru Gram Panchayat president Ambika Lokesh; Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Meenakshi Negi, ACF N Lakshmikanth; DIG M B Boralingaiah, and ZP CEO S Ukesh Kumar participated.</p>
<p>Veeranahosahalli: Forest department officials arranged one of the grandest 'Gajapayana' celebrations with the participation of the biggest ever crowd so far at Veeranahosahalli, near Nagarahole Tiger Reserve (NTR) in Hunsur taluk of Mysuru district, on Monday. </p><p>Minister for Environment, Ecology and Forests Eshwar B Khandre launched the journey of the first batch of nine Dasara elephants (out of 14) from various forest camps towards the heritage city of Mysuru, for training for this year's Dasara Jamboo Savari procession with a puja. With this, the preparations for Mysuru Dasara have gained momentum. </p><p>The ministers, people's representatives and officials offered floral benediction to the elephants. They pampered the pachyderms by feeding them with jaggery, sugarcane, fruits like bananas and eatables like chakkuli, kodbale, kajjaaya, rave unde, and karji kaayi. Mysuru Palace Ganesha temple priest S V Prahlad Rao performed the puja.</p><p>As many as 45 traditionally attired women welcomed the elephants with 'Poorna Kumbha'. The elephants marched amid a mini-procession of folk cultural troupes and cheering crowd till the lorries near the stage event. </p>.Gajapayana 2025: First 'Arjuna' award worth Rs 10,000 presented to caretakers of Dasara elephant 'Bheema'.<p>Khandre honoured the <em>mahouts</em> and <em>kavadis</em>, the caretakers of all nine Dasara jumbos, and invited them formally for the Dasara. Performance by children of tribal hamlets studying in Girijana Ashrama School was another attraction.</p><p>MLA Tanveer Sait, Vice-President of Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority Pushpa Amarnath, Doddahejjuru Gram Panchayat president Ambika Lokesh; Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Meenakshi Negi, ACF N Lakshmikanth; DIG M B Boralingaiah, and ZP CEO S Ukesh Kumar participated.</p>