Mysuru Dasara: First batch of elephants begin their journey towards Mysuru Palace

Team Udayavani, Aug 22, 2019, 7:34 PM IST

Mysuru: The Gajapayana was flagged off at Veeranahosahalli on Thursday at the outskirts of Nagarahole National Park.

Gajapayana signal official countdown for the Dasara festivities which will be held from September 29. The first batch of six caparisoned elephants led by the mighty tusker Arjuna — the Golden Howdah-carrying Elephant — embarked on Gajapayana, their journey from the jungle camps to the City of Palaces this morning.

Gajapayana is an age-old tradition which went out of vogue only to be revived about 15 years ago. It is now a symbolic event which was once an elaborate affair where the elephants, Mahouts, Kavadis, and families used to travel over 60 kilometers from the forests to Mysuru by foot. But in the present times, the elephants and the entourage symbolically march a short distance after which they are transported by trucks.

Mysuru Dasara is one of the biggest and prominent festivals of Karnataka. The festival is celebrated for a period of ten days.
This year the celebration of Mysuru Dasara is from September 29 to October 8.