Mysuru Dasara 2024 ends on a grand note

Mysuru: Dasara 2024 culminated with grand procession and Torch light parade at Bannimantap on Saturday in Mysuru. The preparations for the 'grand' Dasara, which began at least two months ago after the Dasara Highpower Committee meeting on August 12, was led by team of Mysuru district administration under the guidance of Mysuru district in-charge minister H C Mahadevappa, G Lakshmikanth Reddy, K M Gayathri and other officials.

As many as 7995 cops led by Mysore City Police Commissioner and Deputy Special officer of Procession Seema Latkar, DCP (Crime and Traffic) S Jahnavi, DCP (Law and Order) M Mutthuraj ensured the conducts of smooth procession, crowd management and traffic movements.

Around 40,000 people, including 8000 gold card holders, watched the procession in front of the Palace.

According to Mysore Hotel Owners' Association President C Narayangowda, over 65 per cent of the crowd were domestic tourists from the State, while 35 per cent tourists from other states.

Dasara Veteran Elephant Abhimanyu marched to the tunes of Nadaswara by Vidwan A Puttaswamy and tunes of an English police band with 97 personnel including KSRP 5th battalion from Mysuru, 7th battalion from Mangaluru, 8th battalion from Shivamogga, 11th battalion from Hassan, led by B Manjunath. He was guarded by Parade commander ACP V Shailendra with his horse King's Power and Second-in commander S D Saasanur, two mounted Paltoons, 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.

A team of men dressed up in Darbar attires as participants of the private darbar of Mysuru Palace held different symbols (Raja lanchanas) in hands also accompanied Elephants. Those included Palace Jillos who held flags , Birudus who held Birudu (a symbol), Raachaavaras who held Green lance (a symbol), Girl Meese who held Red lance and Darbar Udaas who held Udaas.