First Jamboo Savari rehearsal held at Mysuru palace

The first rehearsal for the grand Dasara procession, Jamboo Savari, was held on the Mysuru palace premises on Sunday, with elephants and police personnel taking part.

The rehearsal included a demonstration of the flower-showering ritual on the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari, seated in the golden howdah carried by the lead elephant. Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, along with forest and police officials, rehearsed the ritual from the elevated rostrum in front of the palace.

Ms. Latkar said the rehearsal was conducted ahead of the grand Dasara finale on October 21, which will feature the procession of caparisoned elephants, cultural troupes and tableaux.

“We organised this to ensure that everything is synchronised and well coordinated,” she said, adding that the positions of all participants during the rehearsal would have to be maintained during the actual procession.

Second phase of security

Ms. Latkar said the second phase of security arrangements had been activated for the Dasara finale, with nearly 23 Superintendents of Police (SPs) and more than 6,000 security personnel, including Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) personnel and Home Guards, being deployed.

The first phase of security arrangements remained in force until the drone and air shows, while the second phase will be in force on October 20 and 21, she said.

A tableau of the Indian Army will take part in the procession this year, she added.

Details of the dignitaries expected to visit Mysuru to witness the grand finale would be communicated later, she said.