Elephants Turn Show-Stoppers At Mysuru Dasara Finale

Arjuna, flanked by Cauvery and Vijaya, drew the loudest cheers as they set offfrom the palace for Vijayadasami procession

- R. Krishna Kumar

As Dasara celebrations came to a close in Mysuru on Tuesday in all its traditional grandeur, all eyes were on the caparisoned elephants led by Arjuna in the Vijayadasami procession.

The elephants, many of whom have participated in the festivities more than a dozen times, seemed to anticipate their role and conducted themselves with aplomb and drew the loudest cheers as they set off from the Mysuru palace. Veteran Balarama carried the royal insignia and led the first batch of elephants behind him, each attired in glittering finery.

The cultural troupes and tableaux followed them.