This story is from October 9, 2019

400 years after fest was brought to Mysuru, pomp is still Dasara seal

400 years after fest was brought to Mysuru, pomp is still Dasara seal
The jumbos, as ever, were the stars of the show during the Dasara procession and celebrations in Mysuru on Tuesday.
MYSURU: The grand Mysuru Dasara procession which showcased Karnataka’s rich cultural traditions, achievements and tourist destinations was witnessed by tens of thousands of tourists and devotees on Tuesday.
The lead elephant carrying the deity of Chamundeswari in a golden howdah on his back stole the show as usual. Though the howdah was tied a bit skewed, Arjuna, the lead tusker, did the honours with élan for the eighth time in a row and completed the procession in two hours.

The 409th edition of Mysuru Dasara was conducted with pomp and the impressive procession went off peacefully covering close to 5km from Mysuru Palace to Bannimantap Grounds in under four hours. After taking over the celebration, the government is conducting Dasara it for the 45th year in a row.
Dasara was brought to Mysuru in 1610 by Raja Wadiyar, then ruler of erstwhile Mysuru Kingdom. As the celebration got bigger, the route was switched from Ashoka Road to via the present Sayyaji Rao Road. For nearly two centuries, Dasara was celebrated in neighbouring Srirangapatna before relocating it to Mysuru.
After Mysuru Palace, the biggest audience junctions along the route, Chamaraja Wadiyar Circle and KR Circle, were packed with people. Some were perched on treetops and building and arched entrances to catch a glimpse of the festival.
Ten caparisoned elephants with Arjuna alongside ‘Kumki’ elephants which tame the lead tusker – Cauvery and Vijaya, marched through the thoroughfares – Albert Victor Road, Sayyaji Rao Road and Nelson Mandela Road before reaching the Banni Mantap Ground. In all, 85 cultural troupes and carnival floats took part in the procession.

Chief minister BS Yediyurappa performed puja to Nandi Dwaja, which marks the opening of the procession, and offered floral tributes to the deity, minutes before the scheduled time. For the first time, the practice of draping the saree on deity Chamundeshwari offered by devotees was ended and this year it was done by the government.
Meanwhile, scion of erstwhile Mysuru royal family Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar concluded the private Dasara celebrations, by taking out Vijaya Yatra (victory procession) and by offering puja to the Banni tree inside Mysuru Palace around 11.30am.
Howdah skewed on elephant back
The tradition of carrying the deity Chamundeshwari in the golden howdah on elephant-back is a crowd-puller. On Tuesday, the howdah was found skewed on Arjuna’s back, much to the concern of devotees and authorities concerned.
For the first time in the recent past, ropes were tied and held by elephant handlers throughout the procession to prevent any untoward incident. The 750kg is made of pure gold and insured from any damage.
Though it took an hour to tie the howdah and seemed fine but after Yediyurappa offered tributes to the deity, it started to tilt. Authorities immediately tied ropes on the left pillars of the howdah and held it tight.
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA