The first batch of Dasara elephants arriving at Mysuru Palace on Friday.
| Photo Credit: M.A. Sriram
The first batch of Dasara elephants was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Jayamarthanda Gate of Mysuru Palace on Friday.Minister for Urban Development Yathindra Siddaramaiah, who is also the Minister in-charge of Mysuru district, and Minister for Forest Ramalinga Reddy were among the dignitaries present when the Dasara elephants arrived at the Palace to a grand welcome. A special pooja was performed to welcome the elephants, accompanied by folk performances such as Dollu Kunitha and Kamsale, besides musical performances.The first batch of nine Dasara elephants had set out from their forest abode in Veeranahosahalli, Nagarahole, on Wednesday as part of the Gajapayana. After reaching Aranya Bhavan in Mysuru, the elephants marched towards the Palace on Friday, passing through Ballal Circle, Ramaswamy Circle and Basaveshwara Circle amid tight security, even as people lined up on either side of the road to watch the majestic procession.Mr. Yathindra and Mr. Reddy accorded the elephants a grand welcome at the Palace premises on behalf of the Mysuru Palace Board and the State government. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Yathindra said he and Mr. Reddy had welcomed the elephants as well as the mahouts and kavadis (caretakers) who will participate in the Dasara festivities.The mahouts and kavadis, who will be staying in tents pitched on the Palace premises along with their families for about two months, were given kits comprising a gas stove, gas pipe and regulator, clothes — including blouses for women and shirts and lungis for men — besides towels, buckets, jugs, mats and bedsheets.Mr. Yathindra said the mahouts and kavadis, who will remain in Mysuru and train the elephants for the Dasara festivities, had been urged to ensure that this year’s celebrations are conducted smoothly and successfully.The nine elephants that arrived at the palace on Friday were Mahendra, Srikanta, Lakshmi, Ekalavya, Dhananjaya, Gopi, Kaveri, Prashantha and Srirama.CM to decide chief guestWhen asked about the chief guest for inauguration of Dasara festivities this year, Mr. Yathindra said Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar will decide who will inaugurate the festival atop Chamundi Hills. Dasara is scheduled to begin on October 11.Krishnaraja Assembly constituency MLA T.S. Srivatsa, Chamaraja constituency MLA K. Harish Gowda, Chamundeshwari constituency MLA G.T. Deve Gowda, Legislative Council member C.N. Manjegowda, Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikantha Reddy and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer S. Yukesh Kumar were also present on the occasion. Published - August 28, 2026 07:14 pm IST
