HUNUSUR: Amidst a continuous drizzle, Gaja Payana or the trek of elephants from the forests to Mysore for participating in the Dasara festivities, began at at the entrance of the Nagarahole National Park at Veeranahosahalli, Hunsur taluk, on Monday.KHB Chairman G T Devegowda flagged off the Gaja Payana. MP H Vishwanath and Hunsur MLA H P Manjunath presided over the function, MLC Chikkamadu and Mysore Mayor Pushpalatha Chikkanna offered coconut and jaggery to the Dasara elephants after offering pooja.In the first batch, six elephants - 53 year-old Balarama, the golden howdah bearer for the last 13 years, Arjuna, Gange, Mary, Sarala and Abhimanyu - left Veeranahosahalli for Mysore. At 14 years, Gange is the youngest of the elephants and has joined the first batch of elephants making its journey to Mysore from this year. Two new elephants, Cauvery and Gopi, will arrived in Mysore to participate in the Jambu Savari for the first time along with the regulars, Kokila, Srirama, Kanthi, Harsha and Vikrama, in the second batch.However, Gopi is being trained to carry the golden howdah in the coming years and has been kept ready as a standby.As part of the farewell to the elephants, women presented the ‘Purnakumbha Kalasa’ amidst the strains of ‘Mangalavadya’; tribal people danced to the tune of drums. This apart, tribal and Tibetan school children performed cultural events. An artiste performed ‘Pooja Kunitha’. Jadiiahiah, a tribal residing in Kappinakatte Haadi, who offers dance recitals during the Gaja Payana annually, gave a traditional ‘Kolata’ dance recital with his troupe.Thimma, the mahout of Balarama, began the journey to Mysore along with five other elephants. Six more elephants will arrive in Mysore by August-end or by the first week of September. Dasara festivities will begin on September 28 and end with Jamboo Savari on October 6. The first batch of elephants led by Balarama will be extended a traditional welcome by the district administration of Mysore on August 11 at the Jayamarthanda Entrance of the Mysore Palace.Thereafter, the elephants will undergo training at the Mysore Palace premises for the Jambu Savari on Vijayadashami. About 11 elephants leave for Mysore from different elephant camps for the Dasara festivities. However, this year 14 elephants will make the trek to Mysore. This is because some elephants are ageing.Three elephants - Dayana, Chaitra and Theresa - are being trained to become part of the Dasara festivities from next year onwards.
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