• First batch of nine jumbos to arrive in Mysuru
• To be housed at Aranya Bhavan in Ashokapuram
• Traditional welcome at Mysore Palace on Aug. 28

Mysuru: The countdown for this year’s Dasara officially began with the grand Gajapayana, the traditional march of Dasara jumbos from forest camps to Mysuru, that began from the Veeranahosahalli Gate at Nagarahole Tiger Reserve in Hunsur this morning.

The first batch of nine caparisoned elephants, including 7 male and 2 female elephants — Dhananjaya, 45, Prashanth, 54, Gopi, 43, Srirama, 41, Sugreeva, 44 and Kaveri, 46, all from Dubare Elephant Camp; Mahendra, 42 and Lakshmi, 54 from Balle Elephant Camp and Ekalavya, 41 from Bheemanakatte Elephant Camp — were ceremonially flagged-off by Ubran Development and Mysuru District in-Charge Minister Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah in the absence of Forest Minister R. Ramalinga Reddy, in the auspicious Tula Lagna between 10 am and 10.28 am.

Priest S.D. Prahlad Rao, who has been performing puja to Ambari elephant for more than 25 years, performed the puja rituals. Following the flagging-off, the caparisoned elephants, accompanied by various folk troupes, were taken on a grand procession for about 1.5-km from Veeranahosahalli Gate till Nagapura Hadi, where the stage programme was held.

During the event, Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah released the booklet with information about the Dasara elephants. Abhimanyu’s Mahout Vasantha was also presented with the newly announced ‘Arjuna’ award named in honour of late Dasara elephant Arjuna.

Hunsur MLA G.D. Harish Gowda felicitated the Mahouts and Kavadis taking part in this year’s Dasara from Oct. 11 to 21.

Later, the children of local tribal hamlets and Tibetan camps presented cultural programmes showcasing their tradition and culture. Villagers from neighbouring villages and tribal hamlets had assembled at Veeranahosahalli Gate to watch the grand ceremony.

H.D. Kote MLA Anil Chikkamadu, K.R. Nagar MLA D. Ravishankar, MLC C.N. Manjegowda, Regional Commissioner Nitesh Patil, Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, IGP (Southern Range) Dr. M.B. Boralingaiah, Mysuru ZP CEO S. Ukesh Kumar and other officials were present.

Elephants to enter Palace on Aug. 28

Following the arrival of first batch of Dasara elephants to Mysuru, they will be housed at Aranya Bhavan in Ashokapuram. On Aug. 28, the elephants will be given a grand traditional welcome at the Jayamarthanda Gate of Mysore Palace between 9.52 am and 10.19 am in the auspicious Tula Lagna.

Meanwhile, 3 more elephants — Roopa, 50, from Dodda Harave; Chaitra, 55, from Rampura and Srikanta, 57 from Mathigodu Elephant Camp — will join Dasara contingent in Mysuru in the second week of September.