Dasara festivities begin in Mysore

Mysore, Sep 7: Marking the beginning of Dasara festivities, a traditional welcome was accorded to elephants which arrived at the Mysore Palace ground today. The royal welcome was modern as well as traditional as pundits chanted vedic hymns and police paid a gun salute in honour of the six elephants, led by majestic 'Balarama', when they entered the Palace ground.

'Balarama' is known as 'Howdah Elephant' as it will be carrying the golden Howdah for the ninth consecutive time this year.

As the herd, comprising Gajendra, Bharatha, Arjuna, Varalakshmi and Revanthi, besides Balarama, sauntered through the main roads, motorists made way for the 'royal convoy'. The public took time off to get a glimpse of the herd.

Minister for Cooperation G T Deve Gowda, who is also the district in charge Minister, along with Minister for Kannada and Culture H S Mahadeva Prasad, offered poojas to the elephants.

The second batch of six more elephants would arrive during the first week of October. All of them would be housed in the Palace courtyard and undergo rehearsals for the Dasara procession on October 21. Speaking to newspersons, Mr Gowda said the festivities, which coincides with 'Suvarna Karnataka' (golden jubilee year of state's formation), would be conducted in a grand manner. The state government had already sanctioned Rs 80 lakh for the celebrations.

Contributions from various sources were expected to touch Rs 4 crore.

The government would also consider the proposal of the Mysore City Corporation for the release of funds to take up various developmental works before the commencement of festivities, he added.

The 'Yuva Dasara' festival would be held for six days from October 12 to 17.

Mr Prasad said, information centres would be set up at tourist spots in the state to help the people.

The government would escalate security measures in the wake of the twin blasts in Hyderabad on August 25. Security in the Palace, Brindavan Gardens in KRS and other places in and around the city had already been tightened, he added.

UNI