Daijiworld Media Network – Mysore (SP)
Mysore, Oct 6: The city of palaces is fully geared up for the extravagant Jamboo Savari, which is organized every year on Vijayadashami. Jamboo Savari has been an important tourist attraction of the state since the times of the Maharajas and people from around the state and elsewhere flock the city to witness this grand event.
In the past, the Maharaja used to get seated atop a howdah placed on an elephant, and proceed to Banni Mantap in a procession. The scion of Mysore Wodiyar family continued to go in a procession in this fashion even after independence, but the custom was stopped thereafter. Now, the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari rides the elephant.
Karnataka Chief Minister (CM), D V Sadananda Gowda, will perform puja to Nandi Dhwaja at Balarama Gate of the palace here at 12.45 pm on Thursday October 6. He will inaugurate the Dasara procession by showering flowers on the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari being carried by an elephant named Balarama, between 1.15 pm and 1.30 pm today. A special dais has been erected at the palace for this purpose. This is the 401st Dasara and 100th year of Mysore palace.
As always, the people of the city have been celebrating Navaratri in a grand manner by decorating houses with green festoons, Rangolis etc and tastefully arranging dolls in their halls. People go from house to house to admire the arrangement of the dolls, which usually depict the grandeur and history of the state, with prime positions having been reserved for the dolls of the king and the queen. The households distribute sweets to the visiting children and guests on this occasion.
Elaborate security arrangements with the help of about 10,000 personnel drawn from various wings including commandos, Karnataka State Reserve Police, Central Reserve Police Force, NCC etc have been made. A bomb disposal squad has also been kept in readiness to handle emergency situations.
The procession will have 34 tableaux representing cultural richness of different districts of Karnataka. The citizens have already been told that only those people, whose clothes conform to the dress code already announced, would be allowed to participate in the procession.
Parking areas have been provided for vehicles near the palace, torchlight parade ground at Banni Mantap, and various designated areas within the city. These parking lots have also been provided with direction boards for the convenience of the people. The Dasara celebrations are being personally overseen by district in-charge minister, S A Ramdas.