Dasara Gajapayana on Aug 26; nine elephants in first batch

Dasara elephants with their mahouts in front of the Jayamarthanda Gate of the Amba Vilas Palace. | Photo Credit: File Photo The Gajapayana, the traditional journey of Dasara elephants from the forests of Nagarahole to Mysuru, will be held on Wednesday. The elephants selected for the first batch will assemble at Veeranahosahalli in Hunsur taluk, where they will receive a traditional welcome before beginning their journey to Mysuru.The arrival of the jumbos marks the beginning of preparations for the Mysuru Dasara festivities scheduled to be held in October.Nine elephants from various elephant camps have been selected for the first batch. They are Dhananjaya, Mahendra, Ekalavya, Prashantha, Gopi, Srirama, Sugriva, Lakshmi and Kaveri. Six of them are from Dubare camp, two from Balle camp and