MYSORE: The organisers of the Dasara festivities, who had drawn flak for the low tourist turn-out during the first few days of Navarathri, finally had reason to smile on Thursday, when the Jambu Savari was held in the city. With lakhs of tourists, both national and international, the Palace City came alive for the Jambu Savari procession, the grand finale of the nine-day Dasara festivities. People made a beeline to the Mysore Palace, the nucleus of Jambu Savari, and congregated at important spots such as the Chamaraja Circle, Sri Krishnarajendra Circle and New Sayyaji Rao Road, braving the scorching sun to catch a glimpse of the tableaux of more than 3,000 artisans.Cops and officials on Dasara duty, understandably, had a tough time controlling crowds and preventing people from climbing trees, high-rise structures and also temple towers.Dedicated enclosures were erected for foreign nationals, freedom fighters and the disabled, apart from invitees and gold card holders inside the Palace.Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai, District in-charge Minister S A Ramadas, Minister for Kannada and Culture Govind Karjol, Forest Minister C P Yogeeshwar, among other officials entered the Mysore Palace through the Jayamarthanda Gate.The chief minister later offered Nandi Puja at the Balarama Gate of the Mysore Palace.Speaking on the occasion, the CM prayed for peace and prosperity in the state. “I pray to Goddesss Chamundeshwari to destroy evil forces and protect the good and the god-fearing,” he added.He later proceeded to the Mysore Palace to watch the Jambu Savari which took off amid strains of the traditional Mangala Vadya.140 troupes, including 34 tableaux made their way across the city. Later, Gowda inaugurated the Vijayadasami procession by offering flowers to the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari atop the 750 kg golden howdah carried by the elephant Balarama. Balarama was accompanied by eleven other Dasara elephants. This was followed by a 21-gun salute. A police band played the national anthem to mark the beginning of the procession that took more than two-and-half hours to traverse the palace premises.However, scion of Mysore royal family Srikantadatta Narashimraja Wadiyar was absent during the inauguration of the Jambu Savari.
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