Lakhs of visitors from various parts of the country and abroad were among those who watched the colourful procession which was an embodiment of tradition, pomp and gaiety.
Light showers, that unfailingly greet the jamboo Savari year after year, started when the howdah-carrying elephant Balarama reached New Sayyaji Rao Road, but failed to dampen the spirit of the viewers, who had occupied vantage positions three to four hours before the procession began, who would not budge.
While some perched atop the roadside trees, others were seated precariously on advertisement hoardings. The entire procession route was choc-a-bloc with onlookers.
Police had banned traffic along the route of the procession since morning. Despite the scorching sun in the morning, people across age gro- ups were sitting on footpaths with bottles of drinking water.
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and other dignitaries arrived at Balarama gate exactly at 1:45 pm and offered puja to the Nandi Dhwaja. The procession started with 'royal elephant' (Nishana Aane), 'Royal cow' and 'Royal horse' followed by tabuleax from each district. Nearly, 5,000 to 6,000 people had gathered inside the palace to witness the procession.
21-gun salute
Yeddyurappa, Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Justice Khehar, scion of Mysore Royal family Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, Forests Minister C H Vijaysha- nkar, Mayor Sandesh Swamy and Chief Secretary Ranganath offered floral tributes to the idol of deity Chamundeshwari, mounted on the 750-kg golden howdah-placed on 53-year-old elephant. A 21-gun salute was offereed and the Police band played the national anthem.
For the first time, the howdah carrying elephant was brought before the dais for offering floral tributes only after the procession left. This was done to save the elephant the ordeal of waiting for more than one and a half hours with more than a tonne of weight on his back.
The presence of 32 tabuleax from all zilla panchayats across the State, folk troupes and priceless antiques of the Wadiyars of Mysore, added glitter to the three-km long procession.
The specialty of this year's Dasara procession was tabuleax representing each dynasty that ruled the State from Mayura Varma of Banavasi, Uttara Kannada up to Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar covering almost 1600 years. The tableaux highlighted the rich cultural heritage of Karnataka.
Besides, various cultural troupes and folk troupes like dollu kunita, karadi majalu, pooja kunita, Nandidhwaj Kunita, Suggi Kunita, Sambala Vadana, Mullu Kunita, Keelu Kudure, Bedara Kunita, Hulivesha, Chandemela, Halage Mela, Lambani Kunita, Gaarudi Gombe, Palegaara Vesha, Karaga, Nandi Kolu, Veeragase, Karadi Majalu, Chitaki Bhajane, Veshagaararu, Bhoota Kunita, Kangirlu Kunita, Hejjemela, Kanivadana, Soman- akunita, Jaggalagi Mela, Pata Kunita, Donnevarase, Koraga Nruthya, Goravana Kunita, Nagari Mela, Khasa Bedara Kunita, Malenadu Suggikunita, Kodava Kunita, Navilu nruthya, kamsale and others gave a glipse of the cultural wealth of the State.
In connection with 400th year of Dasara festival, the committee had given the theme of dynasties that ruled the State for the last 1,700 years. Each zilla panchayat had selected the theme accordingly and prepared tabuleaux on the lines of their tradition.
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