Mysuru (Karnataka): The Mysuru Dasara festival is famous all across the world, and its main attraction is the Jumbo Savari, wherein the elephant carries the 'Ambari' (mantap made of gold holding the idol of the Goddess).
During Navratri, special puja is held in the Mysuru Palace, and on the tenth day, the Jumbo Savari is held in the Palace Street of the city. The Mysore kings have been celebrating the festival for centuries, and now the government celebrates it as a Naada Habba.
Legacy of Mysore Kings' Navaratri:
This year's Dasara will be the 410th celebration in Mysuru. During their reign, the kings used to celebrate the Navratri Festival as Sharannavaratri. The kings used to sit on the Ambari during the elephant procession. The Elephants Biligiri Ranga, Airavatha, Hamsaraj, Chamundi Prasad, and Rajendra, which carried the Ambari and the Kings during the festival, became famous.
The Jumbo Savari procession takes place from the Mysuru palace to Bannimantap of the city. Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, the last King of Mysore, was the last one to sit on the elephant Biligiri. Later, the government started celebrating Dasara as Naada Habba.
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The elephants which carry the Ambari:
According to the tradition of the Mysore Kingdom, Navratri is celebrated for nine days inside the palace, and on the tenth day, Vijayadashami, the Jumbo Savari is held.
The government too is now celebrating the festival as per traditions. On the first Day Of Navaratri, the fest starts with offering puja to Goddess Chamundi Devi and later other events are held inside the palace.
While the elephant Rajendra participated in the Jumbo Savari once, elephant Drona has done so 18 times, elephant Balarama 12 times, and elephant Arjuna eight times. This year, elephant Abhimanyu will carry the Ambari in the Jumbo Savari.