Spectacular Mysore Dasara festivities culminates with Jamboo Savari

Mysore, Oct 2 (UNI) The ten-day Mysore Dasara Festivities, known for its grandeur and pomp world over, culminated today with the impressive 'Jamboo Savari' procession that was watched by lakhs of people.

This year's Vijayadashami day coincided with the 137th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, with both the events symbolising victory of good over the evil.

The two-km long procession began with Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy performing pooja to the 'Nandi Dhwaja' and offering jasmine flowers to Goddess Chamundeshwari, 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 starting point.

The majestic 48-year-old tusker was flanked by its mates Kanthi and Mary. The dozen pachyderms that took part in the procession were tastefully decorated and proved to be the cynosure of all eyes. The procession that included 30 troupes of folk dancers, cultural artists, musicians, a number of platoons belonging to NCC and police force, various bands and 22 tableaux, was led by Nadaswara artists.

Soon after the 21 guns boomed the procession moved on its five km journey to Bannimantap on the main thoroughfares of the city. After a bright sunshine in the afternoon, which gave a perfect start to the procession, rain clouds threatened but mercifully stayed back.

The tradition of the grand finale to Dasara festivities originated during the Vijayanagaram Empire and later passed on to Wadiyars of the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom. The golden period of Dasara celebrations began with the arrival of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, the benevolent prince who worked for development of Mysore.

The state government later made the celebrations as 'Nada Habba' (State festival) and continued the traditions but gave a modern look to it to attract tourists from outside.

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