Mysore: Receiving a ceremonial send-off with a pooja and jaggery, the first batch of five Dasara elephants led by Arjuna , who will carry the golden howdah again this year, made for the royal city of Mysore Thursday morning from Nagarpura in Hunsur taluk to the tunes of the naadaswara in the background.
District in- charge minister, V. Srinivasprasad sent the jumbos on their way after offering them a floral tribute and feeding them jaggery. A Ganapathi pooja was also performed to the elephants for the smooth conduct of the Dasara before they began the journey, or ‘Gajapayana’ to Mysore.
The forest department has once again chosen 54-year- old Arjuna, a veteran of nine Dasaras, to carry the golden howdah during the Jumbo Savari on October 4, according to DCF Karikalan, who is in-charge of the Dasara elephants.
Besides Arjuna the other elephants in the first batch were Balarama, Abhimanyu, Mary and Varalakshmi. Speaking on the occasion, the minister said the state was expecting more tourists this year for the Dasara celebrations.
“We have always taken the royal family into confidence and this year especially we will give them special attention and make sure their sentiments are not hurt,” he assured, adding that due to the sad circumstances, the guard of honour for the elephants would be held at Aranya Bhavan on August 16 and they would be taken to the palace courtyard in a procession only later.
