Countdown begins for Dasara finale

Mysuru: With just two days left for the Dasara Jumbo procession on Vijaydashami day on Friday, preparations are in full swing in the cultural capital. The 41-day acclimatisation exercise of Dasara pachyderms was completed with their final round of rehearsal at the Palace premises on Tuesday. Five units of the police band and eight battalions of police ended their month long rehearsal by joining the pachyderms in rehearsal. The Forest department has finalised the roles of Dasara elephants for the D day.

It is final. 55-year-old Arjuna who has been participating in Dasara for past ten years and carried the golden howdah four times will perform the big job this year also. The elephants are being trained for the last 40 days and training to bear the howdah has been given to Arjuna, Balarama, Abhimanyu. While all three did well, Arjuna was chosen to carry the howdah which weights 750 kgs, DCF Kamala told Deccan Chronicle. Also among other elephants, Cauvery and Chaithra are being chosen to perform the role of Kumki Elephants. Both of them will accompany Arjuna. And 57 year old Balarama who has been participating in Dasara for past 19 years and carried golden howdah 13 times will lead the procession by becoming “Nishaane” elephant.  “While the roles of the elephants are being finalised, we are yet to decide which elephant to drop from procession. Since it is difficult to assess animal behaviour, we will be holding a final meeting on Ayudha pooja and will decide about the elephant to be left out,” DCF Kamala said.

A 91-member police band comprising five units, including 17 men from CAR South (Bengaluru), 15 from KSRP Kalaburagi, 20 men from 8th KSRP from Shivamogga, 19 men from 9th KSRP from Bengaluru, and 20 men from 5th KSRP Mysuru performed national anthem and 21 rounds of cannon shots were fired as part of acclimatisation exercise. The elephants remained stable and the other elephants were practiced to perform their respective roles too. The elephants and their mahouts and care takers will be allowed to rest on Wednesday and Thursday.