Mysore, Oct 6 (IANS) Thousands of people from Karnataka, many parts of India and from abroad were enthralled Thursday by the 'jumboo savari', or elephant procession, in this city of palaces, marking the finale to the 10-day Dasara festival.


Young and elderly men and women braved the hot sun to cheer giant tusker Balarama as he majestically moved through the colourfully decorated five-km route, carrying the 750-kg golden 'howdah' (seat) with the idol of Hindu Goddess Chamundeshwari celebrating her victory over demon Mahishasura.

Legend has it that Chamundeshwari, an incarnation of Durga, consort of Lord Shiva, battled Mahishasura for nine days and eliminated him on the 10th day. Hence the 10th day is celebrated as 'Vijaya Dashami' (Day of Victory), concluding the 'Navaratri' (nine nights) festival.

The decked up Balarama, weighing around 5,000 kg, carried the ‘howda’ for the 13th time. He was accompanied by 11 other elephants.

Besides the 12 'jumbos', the procession consisted of horses, camels, police contingents and 34 tableaux -- 30 representing the state's 30 districts and four state government enterprises.

A replica of Bangalore Metro, which is scheduled to start chugging in the tech-hub from Oct 20, was a highlight this year.

Hundreds of school children and 50 groups of folk artists held the spectators spellbound with their song and dance performance.

The spectacular jumbo procession began with Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay and scion of the erstwhile Mysore royal family Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar offering floral tributes to the ancient Nadi Dwaja at the palace temple.

The tradition of a grand finale to the Dasara festivities on Vijaya Dashmi dates back to the Vijayanagara empire in the 13th century and was later followed by the Wadiyars of the erstwhile Mysore kingdom.