Mysore Dussehra ends with grand elephant procession

MYSORE - The 10-day Dussehra festivities here culminated Sunday as thousands of people from across India and abroad witnessed its grand finale - the famed ‘Jamboo Savari’ or procession of caparisoned elephants.

The four-km procession route in the city of palaces was lined by men, women and children to see the majestic tusker Balarama carry the 750 kg golden ‘howdah’ (ornate carriage) with the idol of Hindu goddess Chamundeshwari.

Balarama was accompanied by 11 other elephants and followed by horses, camels, tableaux, cultural troupes and police bands.

A sudden downpour when the procession was midway through did not affect the finale and people braved the rains to watch the colourfully-decorated animals and enjoy the dance and music of the cultural troupes.

The procession marks the victory of good over evil. According to Hindu legend, goddess Chamundeshwari slew demon king Mahishasura on this day after nine days of battle. The 10th and last day of the festivities is celebrated as ‘Vijayadashami’ (Vijaya is victory, dashami is 10th day).

This is the 12th time in a row that the 52-year-old, 2.7-metre-tall Balarama, weighing around 4,900 kg, carried the ‘howdah’, made of 80 kg gold, with the idol of the goddess.

The ‘Vijayadashami’ celebrations were rounded off with ‘Panjina Kavayathu’ or torchlight parade by contingents of Karnataka Police in the presence of Governor H.R. Bhardwaj, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and his cabinet colleagues.

The ‘Jamboo Savari’ took off after Yeddyurappa worshipped the idol of Chamundeshwari - the presiding deity of Mysore - at the Mysore Palace.

Folk dancers, drummers and tableaux depicting various facets of the state added glitter to the show.

The procession passed through the main roads of Mysore, about 140 km from Bangalore, and ended at Bannimantap grounds where the torchlight parade was held.

Tight security was in place with around 6,000 police personnel deployed along the procession route.

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

Apart from the elephant procession, another attraction of the Dussehra is the illuminated Mysore Palace. Every night of the festivities, 100,000 bulbs illuminated the palace.

The festivities recreate the aura of the glorious Vijayanagara empire and the Wodeyar dynasty, which continues the ancient tradition of celebrating the annual fest.

Though the grand fest is held under the auspices of the state government as a public event, the royal family’s scion Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar celebrates it as ‘Navarathri’ (nine nights) in the palace and recreates the tradition of his forefathers, with a retinue of regally-attired courtiers in attendance.

The scion also holds ‘royal durbar’ daily in the palace during Dussehra when he ascends the throne and receives token tributes from his family members.