Karnataka - Mysore

Jamboo Savari brings curtains down on Mysore Dasara

— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

Privileged: Balarama with the golden howdah and the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari moving out of the palace courtyard during the Jamboo Savari in Mysore on Thursday.

MYSORE: Conjuring up images of a bygone era, the Jamboo Savari, or the Vijayadasami procession, replete with caparisoned elephants and cultural troupes, brought the curtains down on the Mysore Dasara here on Thursday.

Symbolising the triumph of the good over evil, the Vijayadasami procession unfolded to a large number of visitors and local people in continuation of an age-old tradition associated with the Vijayanagar empire and inherited by the royal family of Mysore that has over the years acquired the status of a State festival or Naada Habba.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa flagged off the procession by making floral offerings to Goddess Chamundeshwari installed in the Golden Howdah carried by Balarama. At 12.53 p.m., Mr. Yeddyurappa offered prayers at Nandi Dhwaja seeking peace in the State and prosperity of the people.

Flanked by Kumki elephants Sarala and Revathi, Balarama arrived on the stage to a thunderous applause by the crowd. As the national anthem was played by the police band and cannons fired in the background, the caparisoned elephants raised their trunk as a mark of salute that won them another round of applause from the audience.

Soon after, the caravan comprising the cultural troupes started rolling out of the palace premises which was led by equestrian rider S.G. Mariba Shetty, followed by the Nishane and the Naupat elephants of the palace carrying the royal insignia. It was a record of sorts for the rider who led the Dasara procession for the 30th time.

A significant feature of this year’s Jamboo Savari was the inclusion of over 45 tableaux representing all the districts of the State, except Koppal which could not confirm participation. Reckoned to be the biggest procession in the recent history of Dasara, it took almost two hours before Balarama and company, which formed the rear of the procession, could march out of the palace premises.

Showcasing the cultural diversity of the State, the tableaux offered a glimpse of the art and culture of Karnataka while the folk troupes with the rhythmic beat of the percussionists infused an element of zest to the procession. The enthusiasm of the crowd watching the razzmatazz of colour and pageantry was matched by the curiosity of the onlookers in a few war machines put on display by the Indian Army to create greater public awareness about the Defence services.

Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, mounted on a tableau, a T-72 tank, on a Tetra mobile truck, a couple of anti-aricraft guns and a Bofors Howitzer were the added attractions of this year’s procession.

A few of the tableaux that won the admiration of the crowd included the Kittur Fort and the depiction of Rani Chennamma, the Halebidu Hoysaleshwara temple, Hampi Saptaswara Mantapa, Jalmahal, Shiva temple of Pattadakal, among others, while the Department of Tourism had depicted a model of its Golden Chariot.

In all, there were 100 troupes in the procession, following which the stately Abhimanyu pulled the elephant cart in which the palace musicians were seated playing out a few tunes set in Carnatic style and composed by Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, the last Maharaja of Mysore.

As Balarama, who conducted himself with grace, marched out of the north side of the palace with the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari there was a spontaneous devotional outpouring from the crowd to mark the end of the 10-day festivities which projected Mysore as a blend of the traditional and the modern.

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