MYSORE Aug. 17. Six of the 12 Dasara elephants, from the Veeranahosahalli camp in the Nagarahole forest range, were accorded a traditional welcome at the Mysore Palace on Sunday.

Led by Balarama, which will carry the howdah during the Dasara procession, the elephants marched majestically to the Jayamarthanda Gate on the eastern side of the palace amid chanting of Vedic hymns, playing of nadaswaram, and a performance by the police band.
When the temple priests performed the "arathi", the district officials, led by the district in-charge Minister, H. Vishwanath, and the Mayor, Modamani, showered flowers on the elephants. Balarama, Bharath, Kanthi, Gajendra, Sarala, and Arjuna were offered sugarcane and jaggery as part of the ceremonial welcome, heralding the Dasara festivities.

The elephants began their 70-km. journey, known as Gajapayana, from the camp on August 11.

They reached the city on Saturday, walking 10 to 15 km. a day. During the Gajapayana, the elephants were given a warm welcome by people in many villages en-route, lending a "naada habba touch to the Dasara festival.

In the olden days, it was a tradition for the Maharajas of Mysore to venture into the forests and lead the elephants to the palace premises.

In the past few years, this tradition was given up and the elephants were brought in lorries.

The authorities concerned chose to revive Gajapayana this year by holding a formal ceremony at the camp on August 11.

A number of people from the Soliga tribe and the Tibetan refugees from the Gurupura camp performed cultural programmes at the function.