Mysore/Mysuru: The hair-raising acrobats of military personnel on motorbikes, horse show in precision by Karnataka Armed Reserve Police (Mounted Policemen), entertaining Sound and Light Show and enthralling Torchlight Parade by young Policemen, brought the curtains down on Navarathri festivities in the city, last evening.

The Torchlight Parade Ground in Bannimantap that was teeming with the curious crowd, who had descended on the Cultural Capital Mysuru, for the annual extravaganza, had a seat-edge moment for sometime.

After a gap of four years, the curious spectators had the opportunity to watch various stunts on Royal Enfield motorbikes like Scissor Crossing, Parallel Crossing, Fourth Crossing, Speed Crossing and ‘V’ Crossing. The Chest Jump act of riding over the motorcycle on a wooden plank kept across a man, Hawaldar Manishekaran’s act of ‘Breaking the Tubelight Wall’, Mani Shekar, Mysuru’s Madhusudhan and M.K. Singh’s fire jump and jumping over a row of 15 people lying on the ground, made for a thrilling experience. Leg Cross, Standing on the Seat, Shaking Ride were among the other acts performed by military personnel. Topping all was the ‘Pyramid’ formation, with national flag fluttering high evoking patriotic spirit among the spectators.

Tent pegging by Mounted Policemen in individual and team acts was yet another hair-raising acrobats, with S.D. Sasanur, Anand Singh, Somanna, Rudrappa, Mahesh, Suresh Malali, Jayaprakash, Sandesh and Chandru on horseback, with the assistance of Ramesh Rao and Krishna.

Torchlight Parade by 300 young Policemen, who were recently trained at Police Training School (PTS), Thanisandra, Bengaluru, was the cynosure of all eyes, as it was performed in sync with Kannada and Hindi songs played in the background. The formations like Welcome to Heritage City, Karnataka Police, Happy Dasara – 413, Jai Chamundi, See You in 2024 and Jai Hind stole the show.

The images like Happy Dasara, Karnataka map, portrait of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, Gandabherunda, Karnataka State Police, See you in 2024, Globe, Amba Vilas Palace, Howdah Carrying Elephant and Nandi, were formed in the light rays of drone, thus lighting up the faces of the audience.

Earlier, Sumanth Vasistha and troupe rendered Nadageethe (State Anthem), followed by Sound and Light Show by DNA and dance feature by a troupe of over 350 artistes choreographed by Bhajarangi Mohan.

A total of 18 troops including that of eight armed and 10 non-armed took out a colourful parade to the musical rendition of Police Band. The armed troops included Mounted Police, City Armed Reserve (CAR) Police, District Armed Reserve (DAR)Police, Railway Protection Force (RPF), KSRP and Home Guards and  non-armed troops included Land Army, Navy and Air Force, Girls and Boys teams of Police Public School, Navodaya School, Boy Scouts, Guides and  Bharat Sevadal Boys and Girls teams.

Rudrappa astride the horse ‘African Cat’ signalled the start of volley firing, followed by 21- gun salute by cannon firing and rendition of National Anthem by Police Band, during which the gathering rose in respect.

Mounted Police ACP K.N. Suresh, who was the Chief Commander, invited Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot for the inspection of the troops. The Governor inspected the troops in open jeep, with the escort of Mounted Police and City Police Commissioner B. Ramesh and received the Guard of Honour.

Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwar, Mysuru District Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj S. Tangadagi, Animal Husbandry Minister K. Venkatesh, MLA Tanveer Sait and others were present.