Dasara: Traditional journey of elephants to Mysore begins

Mysore, Aug 21 (UNI) The first batch of six elephants started their journey (Gajapayana) from Veeranahosahalli in this district of Karnataka to take part in the famous nine-day Dasara festivities, commencing from September 23.

As per tradition, Karnataka Housing Minister T Jayakumar offered pooja to the elephants before they started their journey.

The first batch comprised Bharata, Gajendra, Prasanth, Revanthi and Kanthi, besides Balarama, which would be carrying the 850 kg golden howdah for the ninth consecutive year. The elephants had been shifted from the jungle camp at Moorkal in the Nagarahole National Park to Veeranahosahalli.

The second batch of pachyderms would arrive in the city during the second week of next month. All the elephants would be housed at the palace courtyard and made to undergo rehearsals every day before for the grand Dasara procession.

The second batch comprised Srirama, Abhimanyu, Harsha, Vikrama, Marry and Vidya. These pachyderms would form the grand herd of caprisoned elephants that would add grandeur to the festivities.

It was customary for the elephants to be shifted to the Mysore palace courtyard at least one month before the commencement of the festivities for acclimatisation.

Since Balarama and his company were veterans as they had already participated in the festivities on at least five occasions, it would not take long for them to acclimatise to the atmosphere in the city.

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