Jumboo Savari on Oct. 21

D.K. Shivakumar to take part as CM for first time

Mysuru: With just 48 hours left for this year’s Jumboo Savari, preparations are in full swing at Mysore Palace, where workers are erecting podiums and pandals for VVIPs, Gold Card holders and other invitees to watch the procession from close quarters.

This year’s Jumboo Savari will begin between 4.10 pm and 4.35 pm in the auspicious Meena Lagna. CM D.K. Shivakumar, who is taking part in the Dasara festivities for the first time since assuming office, will shower flower petals on the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari placed inside 750-kg Golden Howdah atop the elephant Prashantha.

The ritual will take place on a specially erected podium at the Palace, where 11 other dignitaries will join the CM.

Before this, the CM will perform Nandi Dwaja Puja at Balarama Gate of Mysore Palace, near Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple, between 1.36 pm and 1.56 pm in the auspicious Makara Lagna.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara, titular head of the Mysore royal family and Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, District Minister Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Thangadagi, and Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court Justice Vibhu Bakhru will join the Chief Minister on the podium to shower flower petals on the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari. Krishnaraja MLA T.S. Srivatsa will preside.

For the first time, Chief Ministers from the southern States of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, along with the Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Puducherry, are also expected to attend the Jumboo Savari, along with other dignitaries.

While all eyes will be on Prashantha, the newly designated captain of the Dasara elephants, spectators will also get to see Abhimanyu take part in the Jumboo Savari for the last time as ‘Nishane Aane’.

53 tableaux in procession

This year’s procession will feature 53 tableaux representing 18 districts across Karnataka, neighbouring States Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the Tibetan Settlement, Tulu Nadu and the Tourism Department, among others.

For the first time, tableaux representing the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy will be a part. Several cultural and folk troupes from Karnataka and other parts of the country will also participate. Popular Kannada film personalities are expected to join the procession on an open-top Ambaari bus.

Works underway along procession route

Meanwhile, work is progressing on the decoration of the five-kilometre Dasara procession route from the North Gate of Mysore Palace to the Bannimantap Torchlight Parade Grounds. Workers were seen erecting barricades on either side of the route to prevent people from entering the procession path.

Final rehearsal held

The final rehearsal for the Jumboo Savari was conducted at the Mysore Palace this morning. In the absence of Police Commissioner Seema Latkar and other senior Police officers, Forest Department officials went ahead with the rehearsal after waiting for some time for the Commissioner’s arrival.

The rehearsal was conducted before the air show to avoid disturbing the elephants with the sound of the jets. Of the 13 elephants, 12 took part in the rehearsal, while Dhananjaya, designated as the reserve elephant, did not participate.

The cannons were also not fired during the rehearsal as senior city officials, including the Police Commissioner, were absent.

Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) Manoj Ranjan attended the rehearsal as the chief guest. Conservator of Forests, Mysuru Circle, S.S. Ravishankar; Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Dr. I.B. Prabhugowda; DCF K. Paramesh; Zoo Executive Director P. Anusha; DCP (Crime and Traffic) K.S. Sundar Raj and others were present.

Ayudha Puja at Mysore Palace tomorrow

Ayudha Puja rituals at Mysore Palace will begin at 6 am tomorrow. Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar will perform Chandika Homa at the Kalyana Mantapa following the arrival of the royal elephant and Nishane Aane, the royal cow, horse and camel, along with the royal sword and other personal weapons.

The royal entourage and weapons will then be taken in a procession to Kodi Someshwara Temple for puja before returning to the Kalyana Mantapa. The rituals will conclude with ‘Poornahuti’, the final offering into the sacred fire.