Elephants And Metal Birds In Dussehra Procession

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Mysore, Oct 14 (UNI) The city is abuzz with the Dasara festivities and adding zing to the ten-day event are the large fan-eared pachydrems, evoking admiration from children and grown-ups alike.

Each of the 12 elephants, which are brought here from the jungle camps to lend sheen to the festivities, has a striking feature that make them stand out among evrything.

They are the cynosure of all eyes, particularly children, at the famous Mysore Palace.

Led by the majestic Balarama, who is vested with the responsibility of carrying the golden Howdah and the idol of Goddess Chamundeswari, these elephants are now rehersing hard for the Vijyadashmi procession that marks the grand finale of the festivities on October 21.

Balarama has participated in the festivities on 13 occasions. He is around 50 years of age, measures about 2.70 metres in height and was caught in the Kattepura forest range in Kodagu district in 1987.

Balarama adorns the Titimathi elephant camp, where he is accorded due honours and commands respect when not on the Dasara duty.

Earlier, majestic elephant 'Drona' had participated in the festival 19 times and retired thereafter.

Forty-year-old pachydrem Bharata, who has participated on nine occasions in the festivities, is most likely to succeed Balarama and continue the tradtion of carrying the golden howdah and the idol of goddess Chamundeswari as its body structure with a flat back best suited to carry heavy loads, forest officials, who have been looking after these elephants, told UNI.

Mysore, Oct 15 (UNI) A spectacular Air Show is in store to enthral tourists visiting the City of Palaces during the ten-day Dasara festivities.

The thrilling Air Show by metal birds would be held on October 17.

Senior IAF officers would lead the Air show, while Adarsh of Bangalore would display his remote-controlled helicopter model and Surya Kiran model aircraft.

Dasara Festivities Deputy Commissioner and Special Officer Chennappa Gowda told UNI that NCC cadets would demonstrate model light copters and Micro Lite aeroplanes, where the pilots would fly with the cockpit open.

IAF would also fly MIG-21, HJT-16, Jaguar, 32 Dora and 20 aircrafts, he added.