Mysuru, Aug. 28 -- The first batch of nine Dasara elephants were accorded a traditional welcome at the Jayamarthanda Gate of Mysore Palace, this morning between 9.52 am and 10.19 am in the auspicious Tula lagna, to take part in this year's Dasara festivities to be held between Oct. 11 and Oct. 21.

As soon as the jumbos arrived at the Palace, priest S.V. Prahalad Rao performed various puja rituals before Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy and District Minister Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah showered flower petal on the elephants to officially welcome them into the Mysore Palace premises. Chamundeshwari Temple chief priest Dr. Shashishekar Dixit also performed mangalarathi to the jumbos before distributing prasada brought from the hill temple.

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