JOIN USMysuru gears up for grand finale of 'simple' Dasara
The heritage city of Mysuru, which is a synonym for Dasara, is all set to host the grand finale of the festivities – the Jamboo Savari and torchlight parade – on Friday.
The 405th Dasara, which was inaugurated for the first time by a farmer, Puttaiah from Malara Colony in H D Kote taluk, on October 13, has been extended for 11 days this year, as the scheduled holidays could not be changed to suit the Hindu calendar.
As the government declined to publicise the festival as ‘grand Dasara’ due to the drought situation and farmer suicides in the State, the flow of tourists till Wednesday was no match to the previous years’. However, due to the extended weekend, which starts on Thursday, till Tuesday (October 27), except Monday, tourists are expected to throng the city right in time for the Jamboo Savari.
Tableaux of various government departments in Mysuru district will take part in the procession, besides the Mysuru City Corporation, which is beaming with pride as the city has topped the list of the cleanest cities in India, and the University of Mysore, which is celebrating its centenary.
A tableau on former chief minister D Devaraj Urs will also be a part of the contingent, as this year, the State government is celebrating the leader’s birth anniversary. A total of 33 folk troupes will accompany the tableaux.
Howdah elephant
Arjuna, the elephant which will carry the 750kg golden howdah, will be flanked by kumki elephants Chaitra and Kaveri. While, Balarama, who used to carry the howdah a couple of years ago, will act as Nishane, Abhimanyu will be Naufat and Vikram ‘pattada aane’.
Besides, Prashanth, Harsha, Gopi, Gopalaswamy and Durgaparameshwari will be part of the procession. Kenchambha, which was slated to participate in the procession for the first time, would not make it, as it is yet to acclimatise itself to the urban environs.
Aane Gaadi, the cart pulled by an elephant, will not be part of the carnival this year, as the elephant finds it difficult to negotiate circles and curves on asphalted roads.
The City Police’s demand for paramilitary forces for security arrangements has not been met. So, the Garuda force will provide protection to the howdah along the 4.5-km-long Jamboo Savari route, while 5,636 police personnel will be deployed for maintaining law and order across the city.
CM to flag off Jamboo Savari
The Jamboo Savari will be flagged off by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at 12.30 pm on the premises of the Amba Vilas Palace. Scion of the erstwhile royal family Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar will be present along with other dignitaries. Before the Savari, the chief minister will offer Nandi puja near the north gate of the palace fort from 12.07 to 12.21 pm during the Dhanur lagna. While 23,000 seats have been arranged on the premises of the palace for the audience for the Jamboo Savari, 22,000 seats will be provided at Bannimantap for the torchlight parade scheduled to begin at 7 pm in the presence of Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala.