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Royal City Mysore all decked up for Dasara celebrations; 10-day festivities come to a close

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Mysore, October 3: The biggest and the much-awaited festival of Karnataka- Mysore Dasara is being celebrated with huge pomp and gaiety, on Saturday, October 4.

The grand event showcased Karnataka's cultural heritage resplendent with folk art forms, as 'Arjuna' led other richly embellished elephants through the more than 5-km route from Mysore palace to Bannimantap.

Thousands of people from the city and tourists from outside the state lined up the streets as Arjuna carrying the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari, placed in a 750-kg golden howdah, wound its way majestically from the grand Mysore palace to the terminating point.

The "Jumbo savari", observed in the royal style since the days of the erstwhile Mysore Maharajas, began with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah showering petals on goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of the historical city.

Wodeyar's absence faded the mood of festivities

Pramoda Devi Wodeyar, widow of the scion of the erstwhile Mysore Royal family Srikantadatta Narashimharaja Wodeyar also offered puja, separately.

Srikantadatta Narashimharaja Wodeyar, the last descendant of the Wodeyar dynasty, died of severe cardiac arrest at a private hospital in Bangalore on December 10 last year.

Wodeyar's absence from the throne was conspicuous at the royal Dasara and private durbar or "Khasagi durbar" this year; the royal sword was placed on the throne during the durbar, instead, as the heir has not yet been named by the royal family.

Celebrations in the air

A dozen caparisoned elephants took part in the procession which included troupes of folk dancers, cultural artists, musicians and tableaux.

The tableaux offered a glimpse of the art and culture of each district of Karnataka while the folk troupes with the rhythmic beat of the percussionists infused an element of zest and energy to the procession.

Every year hundreds of tourists head to the erstwhile princely state, during October-November coinciding with the Dasara festivities with the city of palaces all decked up.

Police and the administration had made elaborate arrangements all along the route to prevent any untoward incident.

What Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said

Greeting people on the occasion of Vijayadasahami, Siddaramaiah said "I pray goddess Chamundeshwari to bless the state with prosperity and happiness, and may the people of the state live in harmony and peace."

A grand torch light parade will be held at Bannimantap ground in the evening around 7.00 pm, as part of the Dasara celebrations where Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala will receive the guard of honour.

More about Mysore Dasara

Mysore Dasara is the "Nadahabba" or the State-Festival of the State of Karnataka. The Dasara festivities have a very long and rich history of more than 400 years.

Since 1610, the magnificent Mysore Palace remains lit up for all ten-days of Navratris, followed by a grand and spectacular celebrations on the tenth day on Dasara.

The major attraction of Mysore Dasara is the 'Jumboo Savari' (procession of caparisoned elephants) and the idol of the Goddess Chamundeshwari is placed in a golden howdah on the top of a decorated elephant.

As per the information from the official Mysore Dasara website, the procession includes colourful tableaux, dance groups, music bands, armed forces, folklores, the royal identities, decorated elephants, horses and camels form a part of the procession which starts from the Mysore Palace and culminates at a place called Bannimantap, where the Banni tree (Prosopis spicigera) is worshiped.

Amid the carnivals of decorated elephnats, Mysore Dasara is the most celebrated festival of Karnataka.

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