Mysore decked up for Sunday’s ‘Jamboo Savari’

MYSORE - This city of palaces, culture capital of Karnataka and home to Brindavan Gardens is decked up for the culmination of 10-day Dasara festival with Jamboo Savari (elephant procession) Sunday.

The procession of 12 caparisoned elephants will be led by the majestic tusker Balarama, which stands tall at 2.7 meters and weighs around 4,900 kg.

He will carry the 750 kg golden “howdah”, an ornate carriage, with the idol of Hindu goddess Chamundeshwari in the procession that covers four kilometers.

The goddess is the presiding deity of Mysore. The 10th and last day of Dasara, or Dussehra in north India, celebrates her slaying of demon Mahishasura, according to legend.

This is the 400th year of the grand Dasara festivities which was started by Vijayanagara empire rulers and carried on by former kings of Mysore, the Wodeyars.

Though princely states were abolished after independence, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, the son of the last Maharaja of Mysore, continues the tradition of holding private royal durbar at his palace, the centre of attraction during the festivities.

The palace is illuminated every night of the festivities by 100,000 bulbs and cultural shows are held.

Over 60 tableaux, 27 of them from as many districts in the state, depict various facets of Karnataka will be part of the procession Sunday.

Around 25 cultural troupes from across the state will add colour, music and dance to the procession.

The festivities end with a torchlight parade at Bannimantap, about three km away from the palace.

While Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa will flag off the Jamboo Savari Sunday afternoon offering prayers to Chamundehwari, Governor H.R. Bhardwaj will inaugurate the torchlight parade at 6.30 p.m.