Mysuru: With the 10-day Dasara extravaganza nearing, all 13 elephants that will be part of the famed Jumbo Savari that will bring down the curtains on it, were on Friday familiarised with the sound of cannon fire that will reverberate through the palace grounds and the Bannimantap parade grounds on Vijayadashami Day.
As many as 21 rounds were fired from the over 150-year-old five brass cannon barrels, belonging to the Mysore Palace by the CAR police near the Kote Maramma temple outside the palace, some 15 meters from the elephants.
But on Vijayadashami Day they will be fired at a distance of half a kilometre from the animals.
Traditionally, 21 cannonades are fired in 90 seconds after the Chief Minister offers floral benediction to goddess Chamundeswari housed in the golden howdah carried by one of the elephants at the start of the Jumbo Savari.
The elephants, some of whom are Dasara veterans, did not seem troubled by the sound of the cannons on Friday, according to Dr D N Nagaraj, the veterinarian , who cares for them.
Interestingly, the Dasara this year could see a performance by Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis. A good singer, she has offered to perform during the celebrations, according to housing and Mysuru district in-charge minister, V Somanna.
Meanwhille, Sandalwood actor Ramesh Aravind will host a quiz on Mysuru on September 27 to as part of the Tourism Day celebrations, according to sources in the tourism department.
