Mysuru: A week ahead of Dasara festivities in Mysuru, preparations have gained momentum as the first round of rehearsal to familiarise all 12 Dasara elephants with the sound of cannons that reverberate in the Palace premises and at Bannimantap on Vijaydashami day, was held on Wednesday. The preparations for Navarathri celebrations at the Palace are going on briskly with the assembling of the 800 year old gem-studded Golden throne weighing 280 kgs for the first ever private darbar of Sri Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar.
The pachyderms were familiarised with 15 rounds of cannon shots by CAR personnel. There will be three more rounds of rehearsals. The next rehearsal is scheduled on October 9. They were fired at a distance of 15 metres from the elephants, but on Vijayadashami day they will be fired at a distance of half a km. The elephants were all stable, DCF Karikalan told Deccan Chronicle.
Traditionally 21 cannon shots are fired in 90 seconds during the rendering of the National Anthem during the Jumbo Savari procession after the Chief Minister offers floral tribute to Goddess Chamundeswari in the golden howdah, carried by elephant Arjuna. There are seven, 150 year old brass cannon barrels which belong to Mysuru Palace. Three will used at Mysuru Palace and three more during the torchlight parade at Bannimantap grounds on Vijaydashami day.
The royal scion, Sri Yaduveer Krishna Datta Chamaraja Wadiyar will sit on the Golden Throne in royal attire and hold private Darbar on October 13 morning, and again on all evenings till October 21 between 7pm and 7.30 pm.
