Dasara elephants begin their journey towads City of palaces

Mysore, Aug 18 (UNI) The first batch of six elephants started their journey (Gajapayana) from Veeranahosahalli towards City of Palaces to take part in the world famous nine-day Dasara festivities beginning from September 30.

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and district incharge minister Shobha Karandlaje, as per tradition, offered pooja to the elephants before their departure.

The first batch comprised Gajendra, Abhinaiyu, Arjuna, Sarala and Vijya besides 50 year old Balarama, which would be carrying the 850 kg golden howdah for the tenth 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, Prasantha, Harsha, Vikrama, Srirama, Kanthi and Revanthi, would arrive in the city during the first 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.

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