Jambu savari captivates Mysore

MYSORE: The ten-day Mysore Dasara festivities culminated on Thursday with an impressive jambu savari (elephant procession) watched by tens of thousands of people. The five-km procession began with Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda offering pooja to Goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of this city, in a golden howdah atop elephant Balarama, in front of the Mysore Palace. A dozen tastefully decorated elephants took part in the procession, which included around 140 troupes of folk dancers, cultural artists and entertainers, musicians and 34 tableaux. Police personnel and other officials on duty, understandably, had a tough time controlling the crowd and preventing people from climbing trees, high-rise structures and also the temple towers. Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, District in-charge Minister S A Ramdas, Minister for Kannada and Culture Govind Karjol and Forest Minister C P Yogeshwar were among those present on the occasion.