Mysuru, 21 Aug

The first batch of nine dasara elephants, led by veteran Abhimanyu, lumbered out of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve at Veeranahosahalli in Hunsur taluk, Mysuru district, on Wednesday.

Mysuru District in-charge Minister HC Mahadevappa and Forest Minister Eshwara Khandre flagged off Gajapayana (the procession of elephants) after performing a puja.  

The elephants were taken out on a procession for 2km from Veeranahosahalli forest department gate to Ashram School before transporting them on truck to Mysuru. The procession was followed by Veeragase, cultural dances by local tribal school students. All the nine elephants led by howdah carrying elephant Abhimanyu, Kanjan, Ekalavya, Bheema, Lakshmi, Varalakshmi, Rohith, Dhananjay and Gopi were decorated.                          

By evening, the jumbos arrived in Mysuru city, heralding the Dasara season. They are camped at Aranya Bhavan in Mysuru till Friday and then will be brought to Mysuru Palace. The remaining five Dasara elephants will be brought from Bandipur forest camp later for training.

Minister Mahadevappa said the government initiated measures to empower 50,000 tribespeople living in the jungles of Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts.

After releasing a handbook and felicitating mahouts, Forest Minister Khandre said the government will put up rail barricades across 200km in Bandipur and Nagarahole forests to prevent elephants from straying out of the forest.

Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited Chairman and MLA Ramesh Bandisiddegowda on Wednesday appealed to industrialists, members of chambers of commerce, industries, organisations, corporates and other stakeholders to sponsor the illuminations at Dasara. —Salar News