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Pomp and pageantry marks Mysore Dasara fest (LEAD)
Indo-Asian News Service

Bangalore, Oct 13 (IANS) Pomp and pageantry marked the 10-day Mysore Dasara festival Thursday with thousands of people witnessing the famous jumbo procession that culminated in a torchlight parade after sunset amid a booming 21-gun salute.

Though the day began on a cloudy note with intermittent rains threatening to play spoilsport, the skies cleared by afternoon to herald the grand procession from the Mysore royal palace to the Banni Mantap grounds at the other end of the city.

The spectacular jumbo procession began with Karnataka Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh offering pooja to the ancient Nadi Dwaja at the palace temple and invoking goddess Chamundeshwari, the principal deity seated in a 750 kg golden howda (royal throne) astride the grand old tusker Balarama.

The Mysore royal family represented by scion Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar and his consort Pramoda Devi, cabinet ministers, celebrities and VIPs were present on the occasion.

The colourful procession of a dozen elephants, scores of horses, camels, cultural troupes, folk dancers, artistes and 22 tableaux wound its way through the four-kilometre route that was jam-packed on both sides with crowds in festive attire.

The male elephant Balarama, flanked by female elephants Kokila and Kavita, straddled majestically to the specially erected rostrum where Singh, his wife and the Wadiyars showered flowers on them. 

For the first time, about 200 nadaswara artistes led the procession that included police bands, pop bands, mounted cavalry and tribals.

The tableaux, depicting various aspects of the state's culture and heritage and the achievements of the state government, were a special attraction.

The tradition of a grand finale to the Dasara festivities originated during the Vijayanagara empire in the 13th century and was later followed by the Wadiyars of the erstwhile Mysore kingdom.

The colourfully dressed folk artistes entertained the crowds by dancing en route. A vintage car rally was also held on the occasion.

The torchlight parade at the Banni Mantap grounds was the fitting finale to the spectacular Dasara festivities.