City of Palaces all set for famed Jumbo Savari

Mysuru: After celebrations for nine long days packed with music, dance, drama and food, the cultural capital of the state, Mysuru, is all set for the world famous Dasara Jumbo Savari procession on Vijayadashami day on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate the procession by performing pooja to Nandi dwaja at 2.16pm in the auspicious Makara lagna at Balarama gate of Mysuru Palace on Tuesday.

The procession will commence at 2.45pm and nine elephants led by Balarama, the Nishane elephant carrying the insignia (Flag with the sign of Ganduberunda), Nauphat elephant Gajendra, and Saalaanes Abhimanyu, Gopi, Harsha, Prashantha, Gopalswamy will march forward, followed by 42 tableaux and 62 colourful cultural troupes from different parts of the state.

But the arrival of Arjuna carrying the golden howdah will be delayed, and he may arrive around 4.45pm with the royal family expected to hand over the howdah only after the traditional pooja. This time the procession is likely to cover the 5 km long procession route and reach the Bannimantap torchlight parade venue only by 6.30pm. With the torchlight parade, the curtains will come down on the festivities which will conclude by 10 pm. The fireworks show at Bannimantap has been cancelled owing to the distress situation in the state.

Tourist inflow picks up
The good news is that tourist inflow to the city which had dropped by 75 percent following the Cauvery agitation, has picked up since Saturday. The occupancy at hotels in Mysuru touched 90 percent on  Saturday and Sunday and the rooms are fully booked on Monday and Tuesday, according to Mysuru Hotel Owners Association head, Mr Narayangowda.

Meanwhile, over 500 artists were seen giving final touches to 42 tableaux at Bandipalya on Sunday. Artist Manjunath K Mane, who has won the first place twice for his unique tableax, has come up with a tableau depicting Lal Bahadur Shastri Sagar (Almatti dam).

Security beefed up
According to Mysuru City Police Commissioner, Mr B. Dayanand, in the the backdrop of  Cauvery agitation and the terrorist attack on the Mysuru court complex, security has been beefed up in the city for a safe Vijayadashami procession . As many as 4,214 police including 3405 policemen from outside the city are being pressed into service. As many as 47 CCTV cameras are being fixed at various points including Mysuru Palace premises, the Jumbo Savari procession route and the torchlight parade venue at Bannimantap ground.