Mysore:
Vijayadashami marks the end of the Dussehra celebrations in Mysore. Dussehra has been chosen as Karnataka's state festival - and the centuries-old tradition of a procession that starts in the Mysore Palace and winds its way through Mysore is one of the highlights. And quite literally the biggest attraction in the festival are the elephants.
This year, for the second year in succession, it was Arjuna who carried the howdah with the idol of the goddess Chamundeshwari. The howdah weighs 750 kg and there were attempts to see if Arjuna could instead draw a cart with the howdah, rather than carry it on his back. But 'tradition' prevailed and the howdah was carried on Arjuna's back this year too.
Apart from the elephants, there were horses, traditional dancers, drums and floats depicting different aspects of Karnataka.
The procession wound its way through the streets of Mysore and culminated in a torch light parade.