Mysuru: Jumbos in fine mettle for the big day

Mysuru: Arjuna, a veteran of  20 Dasaras,  will carry the 750 kg  golden howdah with the idol of Goddess Chamundeswari inside it, for the eighth time on Friday.

He will be flanked by kumki elephants, Varalakshmi  and Kaveri  while  60- year- old Balarama , who is participating in the  Dasara festival  for the 22nd year, will act as the nishaane elephant in the front of the procession. Abhimanyu will be the nauphat elephant. All other Dasara elephants will have their distinctive roles to play in the procession as well.  The 12 jumbos participated in a mini procession in the Mysuru palace grounds  on Tuesday along with eight platoons of the police, including two mounted platoons, and an armed platoon.