Mysuru, Aug. 26 -- * First batch of nine jumbos to arrive in Mysuru

* To be housed at Aranya Bhavan in Ashokapuram

* Traditional welcome at Mysore Palace on Aug. 28

The countdown for this year's Dasara officially began with the grand Gajapayana, the traditional march of Dasara jumbos from forest camps to Mysuru, that began from the Veeranahosahalli Gate at Nagarahole Tiger Reserve in Hunsur this morning.

The first batch of nine caparisoned elephants, including 7 male and 2 female elephants - Dhananjaya, 45, Prashanth, 54, Gopi, 43, Srirama, 41, Sugreeva, 44 and Kaveri, 46, all from Dubare Elephant Camp; Mahendra, 42 and Lakshmi, 54 from Balle Elephant Camp and Ekalavya, 41 from Bheemanakatte Elephant Camp - were ceremonially flagged-o...