Final round of rehearsals begin for Dasara Elephants

Mysuru: The countdown has begun for the Dasara Jamboo Savari procession, which will be held on Vijayadashami on Saturday. After 45 days of training, the last two days of the final round of rehearsals for Dasara Elephants began in front of Mysuru Palace on Wednesday morning.

Even as the roles of main Elephants are finalised, during the rehearsal Dhananjaya marched as Nishaane Elephant (who will move at the forefront of the procession). He was followed by Gopi as Nishaane Elephant. Sugreeva, Prashantha, Ekalavya, Mahendra, Rohith, Doddaharave Lakshmi, Bheema, Kanjan marched as Saalanes.

During the Vijayadashami procession, after cultural troupes and tableaux proceed, floral benediction will be offered by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to Goddess Sri Chamundeshwari Devi housed in the golden howdah carried by Abhimanyu.

On Wednesday, during the rehearsal flanked by Lakshmi and Hiranya, Abhimanyu marched with all majesty and stood near the podium erected in front of the Palace premises.

MLA T S Srivatsa, DCF (wild life) Mysuru division I B Prabhugowda, DCPs S Jahnavi, M Muththuraj, ACP Palace Board D Chandrashekar, DCP CAR A Maruthi, ACP CAR H P Sathish, ACP CAR A G Ashok Kumar offered floral benediction symbolically.

Later, during the National Anthem played by two teams of Police band, 21 cannon shots were fired from seven brass barrels near the Kote Maramma temple. Abhimanyu flanked his trunk during the national salute. Even as the elephants are already acquainted to the sound of cannon shots thrice from over 50-metre distance, while this was from 500 meters, they stayed calm.

Out of the 14 Dasara Elephants brought to Mysuru, Varalakshmi is resting due to age-related reasons. Among 13 other elephants, only nine will participate in the procession.

"While the roles of five Elephants are confirmed, among eight other Elephants, four other Elephants which will participate in the final procession will be finalised on procession day," said DCF I B Prabhu Gowda.

Mounted and Armed Platoons

Two mounted platoons led by parade commander ACP (mounted company) V Shailendra with his horse King's Power and second-in command S D Saasanur moved infront of howdah-bearing elephant Abhimanyu guarding him.

Six Armed platoons including two KSRP (Karnataka State Reserve Police) platoon, one CAR (City Armed Reserve) platoon, one DAR (District Armed Reserve) platoon, one platoon of home guards, one RPF (Railway Protection Force) platoon also guarded Abhimanyu. Each team had 27 personnel led by an officer.

Abhimanyu marched to the tunes of a police band with 97 personnel led by B Manjunath. On the procession day, another band with 30 personnel will guard the Nishaane, Nauphat and Saalane Elephants at the forefront. Police bands of KSRP 5th battalion from Mysuru, 7th battalion from Mangaluru, eighth battalion from Shivamogga, 11th battalion from Hassan are participating in the procession.

Announcers of the procession, SI, CID, Forest mobile squad Lakshmi Seetharam who has been making announcements during the procession for more than 15 years, professional anchor B C Banumathi who is making announcement for the second time, participated in the rehearsal.