Dasara elephants receive grand welcome at Palace
2
Mysuru: The first batch of nine Dasara elephants, led by the majestic howdah elephant Abhimanyu, was accorded a grand welcome by district minister HC Mahadevappa at the Jayamarthanda Gate of Mysuru Palace on Sunday.
To mark the occasion, the palace illumination began at 6.50pm— ten minutes earlier than the usual 7pm schedule—casting a golden glow over the celebrations.
The elephants, which were housed at Aranya Bhavan since Aug 4 after the ceremonial Gajapayana at Veeranahosahalli, began their journey at 3.30 pm. They reached the palace premises by 5.30 pm, but awaited the formal entry until 6.45 pm, when they received a traditional welcome.
Quashing opposition claims, minister Mahadevappa said, "Not only this Dasara, but the next three Dasara editions will be inaugurated by
CM Siddaramaiah
." He announced that over Rs 45 crore will be spent this year—up from Rs 40 crore last year—to ensure a more spectacular celebration. Online ticket sales will begin three to four weeks in advance, and the palace will remain illuminated for 21 days. CESC has been instructed to enhance the grandeur of the lighting, he said.
Amid the celebrations, a gaffe by the Mysuru Palace Board amused visitors. A large welcome banner displayed photos of elephants Gopi, Rohith, and Varalakshmi—none of whom were part of Sunday's procession—while omitting actual participants Kaveri, Mahendra, and Prashantha.
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