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Gajapayana begins as nine Dasara elephants journey to Mysuru
The nine elephants selected for the Mysuru Dasara festival began their journey from Veeranahosahalli in the Nagarahole reserve forest on Wednesday, in a ceremony called Gajapayana. Veteran elephant Abhimanyu was given a…
The nine elephants selected for the Mysuru Dasara festival began their journey from Veeranahosahalli in the Nagarahole reserve forest on Wednesday, in a ceremony called Gajapayana. Veteran elephant Abhimanyu was given a farewell as the procession set off.
The elephants will travel to Mysuru over the coming days and undergo training before the 10-day festival events. The Dasara celebrations, led by the royal Wadiyar family tradition, culminate in the Jamboo Savari procession through the city streets.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Gajapayana ceremony is the official start of the 10-day Dasara festival in Mysuru, a tradition revived in its modern form by the Wadiyar dynasty. The nine elephants selected undergo weeks of training and preparation for the public processions. The forest department and the district administration jointly manage the logistics, including veterinary checks and route planning. The main Jamboo Savari procession is scheduled for 7 October 2026, when the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari will be carried on a golden howdah atop the lead elephant through the streets of Mysuru.
Source: deccanherald.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
