Despite confusion over passes, an angry scion of the Mysore royal family and an angrier district-in-charge minister, lakhs of people witnessed the Jambu Savari, the Vijayadashmi procession, on Monday as the 10-day Dasara festivities came to a grand end.
The cultural extravaganza, the first under Chief Minister Siddramaiah’s tenure, brought the City of Palaces alive as people turned up in large numbers.
Led by nishane elephant Balarama, the procession went off without a hitch.
Arjuna, with the golden howdah with the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari, was the attraction of the day.
Differences between district administration and the scion of Mysore Royal family Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar came to the fore as Wadiyar refused to join the Chief Minister for the inauguration, accusing the police of harassing his family. District-in-charge Minister V Srinivasa Prasad had to be persuaded by Siddaramaiah to attend the event as Deputy Commissioner C Shikha and Police Commissioner M A Saleem reportedly did not consult him on passes. Siddaramaiah had to give a dressing down to the authorities before things got sorted out.
Also read: Mysore decks up for Grand Dasara finale
The Chief Minister, who offered pooja at the Balarama gate, said, “I have taken part in many Dasara festivities, but I am happy to inaugurate the festival as CM today,” he said.