Dasara festivities culminate with procession

Mysore, Oct 21 (UNI) A ten-day Mysore Dasara festivities known for grandeur and pomp world over, culminated today with an impressive "jamboo savari"(procession) watched by lakhs of people.

This is the first time in recent years that the Dasara procession was flagged off by the Governor otherwise traditionally, the Chief Minister of the state inaugurates it.

The two-km long procession began with Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur performing a pooja to the 'tradtional Nandi Dhawaja in front of Mysore palace and also offering jasmine flowers to Goddess Chamundeswari, the presiding deity of this heritage city.

The goddess was placed on tusker Balarama carrying the 750 kg golden howdah in front of the imposing Mysore palace.

The majestic 49-year old tusker was flanked by its mates Sarala and Kanthi, and a dozen of pachydarms that took part in the procession.

In all 89 units formed for the procession that included more then 40 troupes of folk dancers, cultural artistes, musicians, a number of platoons belonging to police force, various bands and 23 tableaux and led by Nadaswara aristes.

The procession moved on its jorney to Bannimantap on the main thouroughfare of the city. After a perfect start in a bright sunshine the procession which began with canon carriages followed by famous flok dances of pooja kunitha, suggi kunitha, kolata, pata kunitha, kuli vesha, chit mela, kamsale, chitki bhajane, dollu kunitha, jagga kelige kunitha, gaarudi puppet and other artists entertained the huge crowd that was seen on the either sides of the roads and those parched on buildings and other highrise places all along the route.

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