There was festive atmosphere in the air as  District in-charge Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa flagged off Gajapayana, the majestic march of Dasara elephants to participate in the Dasara festivities beginning September 21, this morning at Nagapura Hadi (near Hunsur) in the premises of Girijana Vasathi Shale (Girijina Residential School) by offering flowers to the six elephants.

This is the first time that Gajapayana is being organised in such a grand manner and this was evident with nearly 5,000 people from nearby villages, tribal areas, people from Mysuru and even foreigners participating in the event, even as the signboards, festoons and buntings all around the venue greeted them.