11-Day Dasara concludes…

Drone show, bike stunt, tent pegging, mind-blowing torchlight drills mesmerise huge crowd

Mysuru: A show by 3,473 drones, bike stunts by Army Service Corps (ASC) Tornadoes, tent pegging by Mounted Police personnel and torchlight parade and exercises from the Police Department not only mesmerised the audience at the Torchlight Parade Grounds in Bannimantap but also drew curtains on the 11-day Dasara festivities in city last night.

The Torchlight Parade was held after the grand Jumboo Savari  culminated at the Grounds. The Parade commenced at about 7.40 pm after the dignitaries including Governor Dr. Sudha Yadav, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and others arrived.

The Governor and CM were taken in an open jeep during which they inspected 18 Police troops taking part in the Parade and received the guard of honour.

Other dignitaries including Ministers Basavaraj Rayareddy, U.T. Khader, MLA Tanveer Sait, diplomats from Europe, China, Ecuador, Denmark, Israel and Australia were present on the stage.

The 18 Police troops walked into the grounds along with the Police Band and took their positions. Also, personnel from Mounted Police force, City Armed Reserve (CAR), District Armed Reserve (DAR), Railway Protection Force (RPF), Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP), NCC’s Army, Navy and Air Force wings, Scouts and Guides took part in the attractive march-past.

Drone show

As soon as the march past came to an end, 3,473 drones shot up to the sky all at once creating various formations in the sky which wowed the spectators.

The show began with drones forming the image of CM D.K. Shivakumar wishing the public on the occasion of Dasara. For over 15 minutes, the drones created images of the galaxy, soldier, peacock, lion, Sudarshan Chakra, Lord Shiva in Nataraja form, Nandi, elephant carrying the golden howdah with the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari and Goddess Chamundeshwari in Mahishasura Mardhini avatar, which mesmerised the audience.

Tent pegging

Tent pegging by Mounted Police was another attraction. The troops were divided into two groups and the personnel mounted on horses pegged the burning wooden planks which were half buried to ground. They also displayed adventure in ‘Section Wise’ and ‘Indian Fire’ displays.    

The main attraction, the Torchlight Parade and drills mesmerised the audience which was conducted by over 300 Police personnel holding burning torches.

They created ‘WELCOME’ initially to welcome everyone to the parade and later created ‘Jai Chamundi,” ‘Samvidhanave Shakti,’ ‘Jai Abhimanyu,’ ‘Drugs Beda Bro,’ ‘Karnataka Police’ and ‘Namma Raitha Namma Hemme’ much to the applause.

As Police Martyrs Day is observed on Oct. 21, tributes were paid to Police personnel who laid down their lives while on duty.

Later, the Police personnel holding burning torches created ‘Jai Hind’ and dispersed from the grounds thus bringing the Torchlight Parade to an end.

Earlier, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar performed special puja to the Banni tree.