Mysuru: True to its new found theme – Nada Habba, Mysuru Dasara culminated in a simple and traditional style with Jamboo Savari on Friday October 15.
Elephant Abhimanyu successfully carried on the task by carrying 750-kg Golden Howdah with the idol of presiding deity Goddess Chamundeshwari. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Mayor Sunanda Phalanetra, scion of erstwhile royal family of Mysuru Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, District In-Charge Minister S. T. Somashekar, Deputy Commissioner Dr. K. C. Bagadi Gautham and Police Commissioner Dr. K Chandragupta offered floral tributes to the Goddess, between 5.00 pm and 5.30 pm, marking the Jamboo Savari.
A total of 21 gun salute was offered in the backdrop followed by the rendition of National Anthem. True to the expectations, Abhimanyu performed his role for the second consecutive year with aplomb. With Kumki elephants – Cauvery and Chaitra on the either side, Abhimanyu walked on the procession route within the Palace, to the applause of the gathering.
For the second consecutive year, it was reduced to a simple event complying with the guidelines of prevailing Covid situation.
Devout minded audience raised slogans in favour of the presiding deity invoking her blessings.
Prior to that, Bommai performed puja to Nandi Dhwaja outside Mysuru Palace North gate (Balarama gate) on Meena lagna at 4.36 pm.
Tableaux and various cultural troupes were the cynosure of all eyes. It was a 411th Dasara after Raja Wadiyar started the annual festival, continuing the tradition of Vijayanagar kings.
Though the princely rule was abolished, Wadiyars the erstwhile rulers of Mysuru were still leading the festival till the privy purse was abolished in 1969. In the later years, it became State sponsored event, with Golden Howdah still being the main attraction.
