Mysuru decked up for grand Dasara procession, torchlight parade tomorrow

NT Correspondent Mysuru: Mysuru, the cultural capital of Karnataka, is all decked up for the traditional historic Jamboo Savari Dasara procession on Saturday, which will be followed by a torchlight parade at the Bannimantap Grounds. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will participate in the Dasara procession along with several ministers, while Governor Taawar Chand Gehlot will attend the torchlight parade. The grand procession of the elephants, led by the golden howdah carrying Abhimanyu, marks the culmination of the nine-day Dasara festivities on October 12. This year, all Dasararelated events, including cultural programs held at 12 different venues with the participation of more than 5,000 artists, will conclude after launching on October 3.

These events include the flower show, drone shows, Yuva Dasara, Yoga Dasara, Women and Raitha Dasara, wrestling, and more, all of which received an overwhelming response. However, Dasara illumination will continue until October 23, and the Dasara exhibition will remain open until the end of December this year. On Vijayadashami day, October 12, CM Siddaramaiah will kick off the Dasara procession by performing the traditional Nandidwaja puja during the auspicious Makara lagna timings between 1:41 PM and 2:10 PM in front of the Kote Anjaneyaswamy temple at the north gate of Mysore Palace.

The procession will be followed by cultural troupes and tableaux, with more than 50 participating this year, reflecting the arts, culture, and architecture of different districts, while highlighting the importance of equality, universal brotherhood, and protecting the constitution. Dignitaries will offer floral tributes to the golden howdah carrying Goddess Chamundeshwari and the Dasara elephant Abhimanyu during the auspicious Kumba lagna between 4 PM and 4:30 PM on Vijayadashami day. Meanwhile, the forest department has prepared all 14 Dasara elephants after providing 45 days of training for the grand procession, conducting rehearsals to acclimatize them to the crowd, police band, and other sounds during the Jamboo Savari procession. The roles of the main elephants participating in the Dasara procession have been finalized by the forest department. Out of the 14 elephants, nine will take part this year. Dhananjaya will march as the Nishaane Elephant (the leading elephant), followed by Gopi as the second Nishaane Elephant, along with Sugreeva, Prashantha, Ekalavya, Mahendra, and others. As lakhs of tourists flock to the city on Vijayadashami day, the district administration has made elaborate arrangements for the success of the festival.

To maintain law and order and ensure public safety, the city police have deployed more than 6,500 personnel, including 1,500 home guards, for the smooth conduct of the Dasara procession. In addition to installing 13,140 CCTV cameras for surveillance, the city police have also set up an additional 150 CCTVs along the procession route, at Mysore Palace, and at the Bannimantap Torchlight Parade grounds. There will be 20 ambulances, 20 fire tenders, drone camera surveillance, a mobile command center, and round-the-clock police patrolling by the Chamundi police force to ensure the safety of women and children. Checkposts have been established for vehicle checks at entry points to the city. On Jamboo Savari procession day, temporary bus stop arrangements have been made by the police for the smooth flow of traffic in the city.