MYSORE: The first batch of six Dasara elephants will commence "Gajapayana" from Veerahosanahalli in Hunsur to Mysore on August 18 signalling the countdown for this year's celebrations.

The second batch will arrive here during the second week of September. All the elephants will be housed at the palace courtyard and will undergo rehearsal for the Dasara procession.

The first batch comprises Balarama, who is slated to carry the golden howdah for the 9th consecutive year. The elephant has been shifted from the jungle camp at Moorkal in the Nagarahole National Park to Veerahosanahalli. The other elephants include Bharata, Kanti, Gajendra, Prashanth and Revathi.

The second batch includes Srirama, Abhimanyu, Harsha, Vikrama, Mary and Vijaya. They together form the grand herd of caparisoned elephants that will add grandeur to the festivities.

It is customary for the elephants to be shifted to the Mysore Palace courtyard at least 45 days before the commencement of the Dasara for acclimatisation.

Since Balarama and his company are veterans and all of them have participated in the festivities on at least five occasions, the elephants are reckoned to be quite "seasoned" and will not take long for acclimatisation and their shift from the jungle camp to the concrete jungle is expected to be a smooth affair.

Meanwhile, preparations have commenced for the Dasara festivities that will begin on September 23. Instructions have been issued to complete the road repair work along the procession route.

This year's festivities will see a publicity blitz to rope in tourists from all over India.

The inauguration atop the Chamundi Hills will be followed by spectacular fireworks later in the night. Instructions have been issued to constitute sub-committees to undertake various works related to the festivities.

Publicity material will be printed in Kannada, Hindi, English and other languages to reach out to more number of tourists.

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