Palace cannons readied to familiarise Dasara elephants

The antique cannons housed in the Mysuru palace were offered puja on Friday ahead of the cannon-firing exercise to familiarise Dasara elephants with the sound of gunfire.

As part of the Dasara tradition, a 21-cannon salute will be fired during the Jamboo Savari after the grand procession is flagged off from the palace premises on Vijayadashami.

The cannon-firing exercise is conducted in an open field as part of the elephant familiarisation programme. It is carried out under the supervision of Forest Department officials and personnel from the City Armed Reserve (CAR).

The exercise is conducted couple of times to ensure that the elephants do not panic or become startled by the booming sound of the cannons during the Jamboo Savari.

Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, Deputy Commissioners of Police Sundar Raj and Harsha Priyamvada, and other officials attended the puja.