Mysuru: The 10-day Dasara concluded with a grand procession followed by the torchlight parade at Bannimantap Ground. Lakhs of people from many areas of the globe took part in the celebration.
Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy launched the Dasara procession at 2.40 PM in Kumbha Lagna at the Balarama Gate of Mysuru Palace. Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and the Janata Dal (S) ministers also accompanied the CM. There is no rainfall and the celebrations are being held even amid death in the Mysuru royal family. However, they have dropped the private Dasara celebrations. Meanwhile, the family has ensured that the golden howdah was handed over to the authorities in time for the Dasara procession.
The Dasara procession included 42 colourful tableaux and more than 60 different cultural presentations. Over 5000 artistes did performances which mesmerised the crowd who had come in large numbers. The procession which started at 2.40 PM concluded at 6.30 PM at Bannimantap ground.
Golden howdah in middle of the procession causes chaos
The organisers for the first time, to ensure that the chief minister performed pooja before 4.10 PM at Mysuru Palace which is said to be an auspicious timing, the organisers brought golden howdah in the middle of the procession which resulted in a lot of problems from the crowds. Usually, the golden howdah by elephant Arjuna was brought in the last minute but this time it was brought in earlier due to which the crowd after seeing golden howdah started barging into the street causing a lot of problems to the artistes. More than 10 cultural troupes couldn’t perform.
Bike stunts hog the limelight during torchlight parade
The mesmerising daredevil motorcycle stunts by military police hogged the limelight during torchlight performances. The crowd who had gathered in large numbers were spellbound when they witnessed various balancing acts by the police. For smooth conduct of the event, more than 5000 policemen were deployed especially from Mysuru Palace to Bannimantap Ground.
In just seven hours, two of royal family die
On Friday, October 20, two of the royal family members Pramoda Devi’s mother Puttarathnammanni and Late Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar’s younger sister Vishalakshi Devi passed away.
