Colourful end to Dussehra festivities

Curtains came down on the traditional 11-day Dussehra festivities here today, with an impressive "jumbo savari" (procession of caparisoned elephants) witnessed by tens of thousands amidst rain, marking the grand finale.
Celebrated as "naada habba" (state festival), the event showcased Karnataka's cultural heritage resplendent with folk art forms, as 'Arjuna' led the other richly embellished elephants through the more than 5-km route from Mysuru Palace to Bannimantapa.
The procession of the 406th edition of 'Mysuru Dasara' commenced with Chief Minister Siddaraamih performing puja to 'Nandi Dhwaja' around 2.16 PM during the auspicious 'Makara langa'. This was followed by a roll out of tableaux from different districts and departments, and police contingents marching to the band tune.

Thousands of people from the city and tourists from outside the state lined up the streets as 'Arjuna', carrying the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari in a 750-kg golden howdah, found its way majestically from the grand Mysuru Palace to the terminating point.
The "Jumbo savari" observed in the royal style since the days of the erstwhile Mysuru Maharajas, began with Siddaramaiah showering petals on goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of the historical city, amidst the gun salute.
Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wodeyar, the scion of the erstwhile Mysuru Royal family, was conspicuous by his absence at the event to shower petals on the goddess.

It has been a practice for the Royal family scions to accompany the Chief Minister at the event.

During the eleven-day long festivities at the Palace, Yaduveer, the 27th King of Wodeyar dynasty, ascended the golden throne during the 'khasa (private) durbar', which is reminiscent of the bygone era.
Though the recent raging Cauvery water sharing issue with neighbouring Tamil Nadu had affected tourist flow to Mysuru, officials said it has picked up in the last couple of days.
Elaborate security arrangements had been made by police for the event following the recent blast at a court premises here.