Dasara jumbos reach Mysore

Pachyderms begin their journey amid fanfare from Veeranahosahalli

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and district in-charge minister Shobha Karandlaje inaugurated the programme as a prelude to the Nada Habba which will be observed in September.

Priests offered puja to the caparisoned jumbos in the first batch; howdah carrying elephant Balarama, Abhimanyu, Arjuna, Sarala and Varalakshmi. After puja it was time for feeding the jumbos with jaggery as is the tradition.

It was followed by the release of balloons and showering of petals. Jumbos raised their trunks as a mark of respect. Local people and students from several schools took part in the event, in large numbers.

The jumbos were brought in separate trucks at Aranya Bhavan in the city in the evening. Another elephant, Gajendra, that was at K Gudi elephant camp in Chamarajanagar district joined the team in Mysore. Veterinarian Dr Nagaraj said that the second batch of six jumbos will be arriving in the month of September, a fortnight before Dasara.

In her inaugural address Shobha Karandlaje appealed to the tribals especially tribal women to be part of Dasara. She also promised to arrange transportation for them during the event.

Joy knew no bounds for mahouts, kavadis and their family members as the government has absorbed 37 kavadis and mahouts across the State including 16 from Mysore district.