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2nd batch of Dasara jumbos to reach Mysuru Palace today

Dasara veteran, 61 year old Balarama who has carried the golden howdah for 14 years, arrived at the courtyard of the palace on Sunday.

Mysuru: With hardly 20 days left for the Dasara festivities to begin, the second batch of Dasara elephants will arrive from various forest camps at the Mysuru palace courtyards on Monday.

Dasara veteran, 61 year old Balarama who has carried the golden howdah for 14 years, arrived at the courtyard of the palace on Sunday. 41-year-old Cauvery, 46 year old Vikrama and 37 year old Gopi from Dubaare camp of Madikeri wildlife division, 52 year old Durgaparameswari from KGudi camp of Biligiriranga tiger reserve, 57 year old Jayaprakash and 17 year old Lakshmi from Rampura camp in Bandipur wildlife division will arrive on Monday.

Tents for pachyderms and also the families of mahouts and kaavaadis have been pitched on the courtyard, according to DCF Wildlife Mysuru division, Alexander M.G.

Meanwhile, the training of Arjuna to carry the golden howdah this year, on Vijayadashami day began on Friday. “Arjuna is carrying the weight with ease and covering the Jumbo Savari procession route both ways in one hour 27 minutes,” Dr D.N. Nagaraj, incharge of Dasara elephants said.

Mysuru district in-charge minister V. Somanna interacted with citizens of Mysuru by taking a morning walk along Kukkarhalli lake on Sunday morning and said that they would conserve the lake. He also participated in a plastic-free awareness campaign taken up by KMPK charitable trust and distributed paper bags. He held a meeting with contractors and urged them to speed up Dasara civil works and promised to get the pending bills of Rs 10 crore cleared soon. He also urged officers and corporators to ensure the drains and weed on either side of the road are cleared, parks are maintained well and streetlights function.

The Dasara helpline 0821-2444777 launched on Thursday is receiving more than 15 calls per day. As many as 150 people are being trained to function on the Dasara helpline. Kiosks will be set up for tourists to provide information on not just Dasara programmes but also tourist destinations.

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