Mysuru, 23 Aug

The first batch of nine Dasara jumbos, led by golden howdah-carrying Abhimanyu, checked into Mysuru Palace on Friday after a traditional welcome at Jayamarthanda Gate of the palace.

The jumbos will stay for more than 50 days on the palace premises till 15 October. They will be taken out for daily training to take part in Naada Habba Dasara, which is scheduled to be held from 3 to 12 October.

Deputy Commissioner G Lakshmikanth Reddy welcomed the dasara jumbos into the palace between 10.10am and 10.30am. The pachyderms were accorded a ceremonial welcome by a host of dignitaries, including State Congress Working President Tanveer Sait, MLAs K Harishgowda, TS Srivatsa and Conservator of Forest Malathi Priya. Traditional rituals were performed and the elephants were offered sugarcane, fruits and jaggery.

The first batch of nine elephants, consisting of Abhimanyu, Bheema, Lakshmi, Varalakshmi, Gopi, Dhananjaya, Rohith, Ekalavya and Kanjan, arrived here from their jungle camp after flagging off the event, Gajapayana, held on Wednesday at Veeranahosahalli, on the outskirts of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve. They were camped at Aranya Bhavan and were accorded a traditional welcome at Jayamarthanda gate before entering Mysuru Palace.    

The elephants were the cynosure of all eyes as they walked from Aranaya Bhavan through Ashoka Circle, RTO Circle, Ramaswamy Circle, Chamaraja Double Road, Gun House Circle and reached Jayamarthanda Gate.

After the ceremony, the elephants were brought to their camps set up near Someshwara Temple on the palace premises. —Salar News