Grand event marks Gajapayana of nine Dasara elephants

The first batch of nine caparisoned elephants that will take part in the Mysuru Dasara festivities in October began their journey from Veeranahosahalli gate on the outskirts of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve to the city on Wednesday.

The first batch of nine caparisoned elephants that will take part in the Mysuru Dasara festivities in October began their journey from Veeranahosahalli gate on the outskirts of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve to the city on Wednesday.

Signalling the countdown to the Dasara celebrations, the elephants led by 58-year-old tusker Abhimanyu, who is slated to carry the golden howdah during the Jamboo Savari, embarked on Gajapayana – the stately march from the jungle camps to the city of palaces.

The event where the elephants were accorded ceremonial reception was witnessed by a large number of people, as the occasion set the ball rolling for the celebrations that commence from October 3.

Minister in-charge of Mysuru district H.C. Mahadevappa, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, Minister for Animal Husbandry and Sericulture K. Venkatesh, Hunsur MLA G.D. Harish Gowda, Chamarajanagar MP Sunil Bose, and several others received the caparisoned elephants on their arrival at the venue and showered flowers on them after the puja and rituals by priests.

With the mahouts on their back, the elephants marched a distance amidst the presence of tribals and locals as a part of Gajapayana, before boarding separate trucks for Mysuru. All nine jumbos arrived here traversing a distance of 70 km and are camping at the Aranya Bhavan campus. The elephants will enter the palace on August 23, with a grand reception planned for them by the district administration.

In the past, the elephants used to march on foot from the jungles to Mysuru. Now, the event is symbolic, as the jumbos cover a short distance and are later transported to Mysuru in trucks.

Earlier, Dr. Mahadevappa flagged off the Gajapayana of nine elephants amidst a festive ambience, and cultural and folk performances by the tribals and locals. He said the first batch of nine elephants led by Abhimanyu will be welcomed at the palace on August 23. Other jumbos in the batch includes Kanjan, Ekalavya, Bheema, Lakshmi, Varalakshmi, Rohit, Dhananjaya, and Gopi.