when the 10day dasara festivities reached a crescendo with 51yearold balarama carrying the 750kg golden howdah waded through a sea of people it was a treat to tourists the procession conjured up the images of the past as mysore kept its date with history celebrating vijayadashami and showcasing indias vibrant culture and diverse traditions the naada habbas grandeur melted in the opulence of jumboo savari as balaramaled team ambled majestically to the cheering crowd many foreigners who could not wait to savour the cultural treat were amazed by the charm of elephants fritz 67 from germany said i am thrilled its so wonderful and brand mysore dasara is a total selloutchief minister b s yeddyurappa launched the mysores rendezvous with its rich past by offering traditional puja to nandhi dhwaja and floral tributes to goddess chamundeshwari over 1000 performing artistes presented over 50 art forms all along the procession route the cultural karnataka was on the move with artistes in a colourful attire performing dollu kunita veeragase kamsale kolata pata kunita zhanj pathak and puja kunita folk art from kerala singari melam and tamil nadu tappatam are value additions this edition tibetans living in exile presented a musical thanksgiving for providing them asylumthroughout the day the city was swathed in culture and tradition the scion of the mysore royal family srikanta datta narasimharaja wadiyar performed the traditional shami puja marking the culmination of private dasara festivities and the naada habba performing its task to perfection the ambari elephant balarama flanked by kumki elephants kanti and mary marched along to reconnect with the past as is the wont frenchmake canons boomed presenting salutations symbolically signifying victory of good over evil and the cultural caravan presented pomp and pageantry the hallmark of mysores dasara