Gajapayana ಗಜಪಯಣದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಮೈಸೂರು ದಸರಾ ಶುರು Mysuru Dasara begins Veeranahosahalli Hunsur Aranya Bhavana

‘Gajapayana’ event, featuring the majestic march of elephants from the jungle camps to Mysuru, commenced the journey of dasara elephants from Veeranahosahalli in Nagarahole National Park, Hunsur taluk, on Sept. 1 2023 This inaugural event will see the participation of the first batch of nine elephants.

The Dasara elephants, assembled from their respective base camps at Veeranahosahalli, initiated their grand procession from the same location in Hunsur taluk. The dasara elephants are expected to reach Mysuru and will be accommodated at the Aranya Bhavan, Ashokapuram.
Mysuru Dasara Elephants 2023, Gajapayana, the stately march of the caparisoned elephants from their jungle camps to the city of palaces ahead of the Dasara festivities, was flagged off at Veerana Hosahalli gate in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve near Hunsur on Friday, September 1.
The event signals the countdown for the famous Dasara festivities here in October. The Jamboo Savari on the day of Vijayadashami marking the Dasara finale is the most awaited event with lakhs of people witnessing the grand spectacle unfolding on the streets (Raja Marga) of Mysuru.

The elephants led by Abhimanyu, the lead tusker that carries the golden howdah, received a grand welcome as Minister in charge of Mysuru district H.C. Mahadevappa and Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre showered flowers on them.

Harish Gowda, Hunsur MLA; Mayor Shivakumar, Deputy Commissioner K.V. Rajendra, Police Commissioner B. Ramesh, senior forest officers including Sourabh Kumar and others were present.
The first batch of nine elephants includes Abhimanyu, Arjuna, Gopi, Dhananjaya, Varalakshmi, Vijaya, Mahendra and Kanjan. The second batch of five elephants will be brought to Mysuru after sometime. Kanjan is the newcomer to the Dasara jumbo squad.
The elephants will be brought to Mysuru in separate trucks before Friday evening and they shall be camping at Aranya Bhavan before they are traditionally welcomed to the palace on September 4.

Mahouts, kavadis and their family members will accompany the elephants and they shall be camping in the palace surroundings until the festivities get over with temporary accommodation provided to them.

The ceremonies began with Padapuja, where ‘Arishina Kumkuma’ was sprinkled at the feet of the elephants. Subsequently, the elephants were treated to ‘Modaka’ and ‘Pancha Phala’ (five fruits). The elephants are scheduled to reach the Forest Department’s Aranya Bhavan at Ashokapuram in city this afternoon as they are transported on trucks. They will receive a traditional welcome at Mysore Palace on Sept. 4. Leading the procession was Abhimanyu from the Mathigodu Elephant Camp, captured in the Hebballa Forest in Kodagu in 1970. Abhimanyu has been an integral part of Dasara since 2012 and served as the lead elephant for the music band carriage until 2015.

Accompanying Abhimanyu were eight other elephants: Dhananjaya, Gopi, Kanjan, Vijaya, Arjuna, Bhima, Varalakshmi and Mahendra. Kanjan was chosen at the last moment as the previously scheduled Parthasarathi is in musth and the Department had to replace him. orest Minister Khandre released the list of all the 14 elephants that are participating in this year’s Dasara. Male elephants – Abhimanyu, Arjuna, Bhima, Mahendra, Dhananjaya, Gopi, Prashanth, Sugreeva, Kanjan and Rohith. Female elephants – Vijaya, Varalakshmi, Hiranya and Lakshmi. Today’s batch comprised seven males and two females. The rest of the elephants will form the second batch that will arrive at a later date.