Bangalore: State Chief Minister B.S Yeddyurappa is the proud flag bearer of the Vijayadashami Elephant procession carrying Chamundeshwari on the back of Elephant Balarama in a golden hood on the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 17 from the old Mysore Palace. The procession to Banni Mantapa will be 4 kms, long with elephants, dancers, tableaus and other eye-filling scenes of Dushera that made Mysore World famous.
CM performs the final Puja to “Nandi dhwaja” in front of the palace where thousands of visitors and devotees will throng on a holiday. The state govt is scheduled to offer a Puja to Goddess Chamundeshwari, before the procession starts with 51-year old mighty Balarama  bearing 750kg heavy golden ‘howdah’ and the Goddess on his high back.
It is the 400th year of such a great celebration, also marking 100th year of the Mysore Palace, and 125th birth anniversary of N. Krishnaraja Wodeyar, Minister N.A. Ramadas stated here today.
Contingents from folk artistes and police teams, 32 tableaus, a 21 gun salute, and over 100 units in joy are in the Dushera procession on Oct.17 afternoon. A torch light parade rounds off the activities near the Banni Mantapa at night, when the state governor will be present along with cabinet Ministers. Over 20 lakhs of visitors have come to Mysore this year, many of them from outside India.