The gentle giants from the jungle camps began their symbolic march from the forests, signalling the countdown to the Mysuru Dasara to be held from October 1 to 11 this year.
Though “Gajapayana” alludes to the stately march of the elephants from the jungle camps to the city of palaces, the pachyderms walk only a short distance at the flag-off point, after which they are transported to Mysuru by truck.
The elephants are an intrinsic part of Mysuru Dasara since time immemorial. During the regime of the maharajas, the elephants would march from the jungles to the palace covering the distance in two to three days. The practice was revived about 15 years ago; but the elephants’ march is mere symbolism as they walk only for a short distance. Led by the Howdah elephant Arjuna, the other elephants were Balarama, Abhimanyu, Cauvery and Vijaya. Gajendra will join them from K. Gudi camp by late in the evening.
The caparisoned elephants were brought from their respective jungle camps to Veeranahosahalli in Nagarahole and were accorded a traditional welcome, complete with rituals and prayers for their collective welfare by the priests. Rituals completed, the elephants savoured the juicy sugarcane, plantains, jaggery etc. These items will now be part of their regular diet till the conclusion of the festivities.
The elephants will be accommodated at Aloka campus of the forest department where they will be rested before being ushered into the Mysuru Palace on August 26th in another traditional ceremony. Their last resting camp will be the palace courtyard, where they will be joined by the second batch of another six elephants. They will then commence training for Mysuru’s big ticket event – Dasara – and shore up the festivities with their presence.
The second batch of six elephants includes Vikrama, Gopi, Harsha, Prashanth, Durgaparameshwari and Gopalaswamy. Minister for Public Works H.C. Mahadevappa, Mysuru Mayor B.L. Bhyrappa, Deputy Commissioner Randeep and others were present. There were cultural programmes by the tribals and school children, besides members of the Tibetan community.
