Torchlight parade, fireworks brings curtains down on Mysuru Dasara

A dazzling torchlight parade with laser display and spectacular fireworks in the sprawling Bannimantap Grounds here brought curtains down on the world famous 10-day Mysuru Dasara festival on Saturday night.

Thousands of people, including visitors from across the country, were treated to a visual delight by about 300 police personnel on horses and motorcycles, with their daredevilry acrobatics after Karnataka Governor Vajubhai R. Vala took salute from the contingents, including home guards and scouts & guides in the grounds.

The over two-hour grand show began around 8 p.m. under a cloudy sky after the victory parade of caparisoned elephants, horse-drawn carriages, 2,000 artists, cultural troupes and 40 tableaux marched 5km through the city and reached the venue in the twilight.

The equestrian show by a six-member ace horseman enthralled the capacity crowd and drew loud applause from the packed stands. It was followed by culture programmes.

Hundreds performing a torchlight parade across the sprawling Bannimantap Grounds was a much-awaited spectacle that culminates Mysuru Dasara each year.

Even as the victory parade winded its way, titular Mysuru royal family head Yuduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar reached the grounds in a silver palanquin and worshipped 'banni tree' (shami tree) at the venue ahead of the torchlight parade.

He was seen off by queen-mother Pramoda Devi and princess Trishika Devi from the gallery of the royal Amba Vilas palace, which dazzled with thousands of light bulbs in the evening.

According to the epic Mahabharata, Pandavas had hidden their weapons in the banni tree during their one-year hiding incognito after they were banished into 12-year forest exile. Kings and rulers of the old Mysuru region used to worship the tree for victory before embarking to wars.

--IANS

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