Caparisoned elephants lead the Dasara procession in Mysore, India. The procession starts from the Amba Vilas Palace (also known as Mysore Palace) on the tenth and final day of the Dasara Festival. The Procession led by an elephant carrying a golden howdah winds through the streets of the city and ends at Banni Mantap. Groups of performers, musicians and artists from around Karnataka participate in the celebration. The Dasara festivities can be traced back to the Puranas. The very first Dasara in the history of Mysore state can be traced back to the Mahnavami of the Raja Wadiyar in 1610, celebrated at Sriranapatnam. The celebrations honour the victory of the Hindu godess Chamundeswari over the buffalo headed demon Mahishasura.
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