Dasara Elephants of Mysore

Dasara Festival is arriving in a months time. When there is a talk about Dasara - festival of victory of Good over Evil, the word synonymous to some of us is Mysore and its Dasara celebrations. 

Major attraction of Mysore Dasara is it's world famous event - the herd of elephants undertaking a procession in the heart of city with it's leader carrying a Golden Howdah (Ambari) presiding with Majestic Goddess Chamundeshwari (Maa Durga). The procession with Pomp and Splendor is worth watching.

In case you do not know, these elephants doing a procession are from wild, they are well trained and domesticated. To accustom for the sound and noise of Dasara celebration they are brought to Mysore at least 45 days before the Navaratri starts, so that they get used to the Hustle and Bustle of city noise. During these days they are taken out for a mock drill, a parade on the streets of Mysore from Palace to location called Banni Mantap which is approx 6 KM. This happens twice a day . 

This rehearsal, a practice event by elephants is well documented in local newspapers since years, with occasional picture carrying herd elephants and traffic vehicles moving along side by side. Having been to Mysore during Dasara couple of times - it was a still a wish of mine to visit Mysore before Dasara and witness of this Practice session/Mock drill done so perfectly. The time for this wish to be fulfilled came this year. I too had made a resolve to make it true this time. Hence planned leaves in advance & booked a stay for couple of days at a nice and cozy place which is in between the procession route of Palace and Banni Mantap.

On the first day, and for the first time when I saw elephants walking on the streets, I was dumb stuck at the sight of those majestic elephants just walking past our car as we sat and watched them with awe. My words don't do justice to describe this. Let me put it this way; some of us have done wild life safari or stayed in one of those forest resorts where we are used to seeing such a herd of elephants in their natural habitat. When you witness the same herd of 11 or 12 elephants walking in sync and with full vigor in city - you will be mesmerized without any doubt. I would say here that people born or staying in Mysore are the most luckiest ones - they get to witness this all life.

I will end with what else I happen to see in next few days. I saw people eagerly waiting on the way both the sides with complete family friends, patiently both in mornings & evenings. Also I noticed during early morning people thronging palace gates waiting the elephants to come out. The moment the gates are open and they are out - its' all whistles and claps. All the way, from palace circle to main streets of Mysore - locals and tourists were welcoming them happily as they passed by. And just like I was at my first sight, so many people were dumb stuck in awe and in total silence. I am sure everyone who witness this activity are the lucky ones. 

The energy, the passion which flows around as the herd of Dasara Elephants walk around the old city of Mysore full of people and vehicles is worth witnessing in your life. 

Sharing the clip of a morning procession when they were on their way back to Palace after another routine practice at Banni Mantap, taken right in front of our halting place. 

Note:When you are watching them, they also notice you. 

Ciao...