Mysuru Dasara procession held after two years; Abhimanyu steps up in style

MYSURU: The grand Jamboo Savari was held after two years of Covid-19 restrictions, and the Naada Habba festivities concluded on Wednesday.

CM Basavaraj Bommai offers flower petals to the idol Goddess Chamundeshwari carried by Abhimanyu.

The 57-year-old Abhimanyu carried the 750 kg golden howdah with the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari from Amba Vilas Palace, flanked by female elephants Lakshmi and Chaitra. They walked majestically all the way up to Bannimantap Grounds where the processsion concluded.

Abhimanyu carries the 750 kg golden howdah from Ambavilas palace to Banni Mantapa ground.

Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommayi signalled the start the Jamboo Savari procession by offering flower petals to Goddess Chamundeshwari at 5.40 pm. Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, scion of the Mysuru royal family, Mayor Shivakumar, Ministers S T Somashekar and V Sunil Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Bagadi Gautham and Police Commissioner Chandragupta were present.

CM Bommai was joined by Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar and others at Ambavilas Palace.

Arjuna, the 63-year-old elephant who once carried the golden howdah, participated as the Nishane elephant for the first time in the grand procession post retirement. There were many colourful tableaux and one portraying late actor Puneeth Rajkumar’s was a big hit with the crowds.

The tableaux in the Jamboo Savari attracted massive crowds.

The torchlight parade at Bannimantap ground was held at around 7 pm, where Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot received the guard of honour.

The torchlight parade at Bannimantap ground in Mysuru.