Governor flags off Dasara procession in Mysore

For the first time in recent memory, Governor Rameshwar Thakur flagged off the famous Dasara procession in Mysore, a prerogative normally reserved for the Chief Minister of the State.

Thakur had to do the honours in the wake of the collapse of the JD (S)-BJP Government had imposition of Federal rule in Karnataka.

The Dasara procession, which marks the culmination of the ten-day cultural festival, featured twelve caparisoned elephants including a majestic elephant Balarama carrying the 750-kg golden howdah, besides 28 tableaux and 80 cultural troupes that sought to project the state’s culture and traditions.

Thousands of people, including foreigners, thronged the 3-km route beginning from the Mysore Palace to the Bannimantap Grounds. Crowds of people were not only lined on either side of the road, but were also seen perched on branches of trees and advertisement hoardings to catch a glimpse of the procession.

Police said five persons were injured when the branch of the tree on which they were seated collapsed just outside the Mysore Palace. Nearby, an advertisement hoarding came crashing down, injuring three others.

However, police had made elaborate security arrangements to maintain law and order for the event, which had attracted an estimated 400,000 people.

A vintage car rally featuring a fleet of 45 cars, including the ones owned by the erstwhile Maharajas in different parts of the country, was one of the highlight of this year’s Dasara procession.

During the ten-day-long Dasara festival, which has been celebrated in Mysore with traditional pomp and gaiety since decades, the City comes alive with the illumination of the Mysore Palace and a myriad variety of cultural and recreational events.

Apart from the classical music concerts held in the Durbar Hall of Mysore Palace, which regaled the connoisseurs of music, the administration had also organized dance and music concerts by leading personalities like Hema Malini, the “dream girl” of yesteryears and singers Usha Uthup and Sonu Nigam.

Curtains came down on the Dasara festival with an impressive torch light parade and scintillating fireworks at Bannimantap grounds.