The restless crowd had been waiting for hours when a gentle drizzle began to fall. An announcer, speaking in Kannada over scratchy loudspeakers, encouraged the spectators to be patient just a little longer. The anticipation was reaching a peak.
Finally, around midafternoon, a loud cheer erupted as the first elephants appeared, leading the procession. As if on cue, the rain became heavier, but thousands of onlookers remained unfazed. This was the moment they had been anxiously awaiting — the grand culmination of the annual Dussehra festivities in Mysuru.
One by one, 11 elephants adorned in vibrant silken sheets paraded past the spectators, each raising its elegantly painted trunk in greeting. Mahouts, riding atop, navigated the majestic creatures through the throng, undeterred by the pouring rain.
The pageant continued with a series of elaborately decorated floats showcasing technological milestones, folk culture, and architectural marvels. Interspersed among them were dancers and performers in intricate costumes, performing classical dances, beating drums, and enacting scenes from Hindu mythology.
The climax of the procession was marked by the arrival of a stately male elephant named Abhimanyu, flanked by two shorter females. Abhimanyu, 58 years old and draped regally, carried on his back a golden seat, known as a howdah, bearing the idol of Chamundeshwari, the Hindu goddess Durga. The seat, a symbol of royalty, weighs 750 kilograms with 80 kilograms of gold leaves covering its wooden structure. Abhimanyu moved with a grace that belied the weight he bore, his steps barely audible on the street.
Despite objections from animal activists who argue that the crowds and noise cause distress to the elephants, the majestic animals proceeded with poise, trained over years to handle such environments.
Chamundeshwari is the principal deity of the Wadiyar royal family, the former rulers of Mysuru. As tradition dictates, the symbolic rulers dispatched the elephants from the royal courtyard of the Amba Vilas Palace with prayers and flower showers, continuing a custom over 400 years old.
The Mysuru Dussehra celebrates the defeat of the demon Mahishasura by the goddess Chamundeshwari, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. In other parts of India, the day marks the victory of the Hindu god Rama over the demon king Ravana.
The festivities carried on into the evening, culminating when the elephants returned to a grandly illuminated palace. Almost 100,000 electric bulbs lit up the contours of its impressive architecture, transforming the Amba Vilas Palace into a radiant beacon of celebration.