Srirangapatna, Oct. 16 -- A grand Jumboo Savari procession marked the launch of the 4-day, 416th Srirangapatna Dasara at the historic town of Srirangapatna yesterday.

The Jumboo Savari procession was launched at Bannimantap, Kirangur in the outskirts of the town after priest Bhanuprakash Sharma performed pujas and other associated rituals to specially decorated idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari.

Later, the Jumboo Savari procession began, which chiefly figured Dasara elephant Dhananjaya carrying the 250-kg wooden howdah, with the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari placed in it.

Noted actor-Director V. Ravichandran inaugurated the Dasara in the presence of Mandya District In-charge Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy, Agriculture Minister P.M. Narendr...