Signalling the official countdown to the famed Mysuru Dasara, elephants led by the mighty tusker Arjuna embarked on Gajapayana, their stately march from the jungle camps to the city of palaces, on Saturday.
An age-old tradition which went out of vogue only to be revived about 15 years ago, Gajapayana is today a symbolic rendition of what was once an elaborate affair which entailed covering the nearly 60 km distance from the forests to the city by foot. But in the present times, the first batch of caparisoned elephants march a short distance after which they are transported to the city by trucks.
Flagged off near Nagapura on the outskirts of Nagarahole national park, the elephants decked up for the occasion were the cynosure of all eyes. A large batch of tourists, brought to witness the occasion for the first time, was mesmerised.
The elephants were accorded a traditional welcome complete with poornakumbha amidst the chanting of hymns in the backdrop of an ensemble of musicians playing traditional tunes. Special prayers including Ganesha ashtotthara were held for the safety of the elephants and the collective welfare of society while coconuts, jaggery and sugarcane were offered in plenty for the elephants.
Cultural programmes complete with tribal and folk dance were presented to mark the occasion. Elected representatives led by PWD Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, who is also the Mysuru district in-charge Minister, and officials from the district administration and Forest Department were among those present.
The six elephants comprising the first batch included Arjuna, Balarama, Abhimanyu, Kaveri, Varalakshmi and Vijaya. Bhima and Gajendra are being transported from Mathigodu and K.Gudi camps respectively. They will be joined by 7 other elephantsat the Mysuru Palace where they will stay put till the culmination of Dasara on September 30.
This year’s Gajapayana is being held coincidentally on World Elephant Day observed to highlight the plight of Indian and African elephants on August 12 every year since 2012.
Gaja Yatra, a nation-wide rally by Wildlife Trust of India in association with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, is also being held to mark the occasion and Gajapayana fits into the larger scheme of highlighting the importance of this flagship species.
The objective of Gaja Yatra is to create awareness on shrinking elephant space due to encroachment, habitat destruction and fragmentation and the imperatives of protecting or reclaiming for elephants the ancient corridors or tracts of forests which they use during their course of migration.
