Mysuru Dasara Cannon firing ಜಂಬೂಸವಾರಿ ಕುಶಾಲತೋಪು ಪಿರಂಗಿ ತಾಲೀಮು Jamboo Savari Mysore Karnataka Tourism. Cannon firing Drill ಪಿರಂಗಿ Mysore Dasara Kushala thopu Mysore tourism Karnataka tourism Naada Habba. Cannon firing drill for Dasara elephants held at Mysore Palace. To make sure the jumbos get used to the sound of the cannons, a team of personnel from the City Armed Reserve conducts firing rehearsals at regular intervals in the run-up to the procession.‘Cannon Squad,’ comprising 30 Policemen from City Armed Reserve (CAR) conducted cannon firing test for Dasara Jumbos to acclimatise the elephants and horses to the bombarding sound. All Dasara elephants and horses were brought to the parking space near Kote Maramma Temple .
the cannons are fired for 21 times outside the Palace fort to signal the beginning of Jumboo Savari.
A group of CAR personnel have already been training the cannon firing .
Kushala thopu’, 21 rounds of fire using cannons during Jamboo Savari, the last leg of Navaratri, may have been a tradition that was in practice since the Wadiyar’s rule. But what makes it distinct in the government sponsored event is that unlike other regions in the State, and also in the nation that were once governed by kings, Mysore is the only place where the good old artillery is still making sound, keeping alive the practice, albeit with changes. Though Jaigarh in Rajasthan boasts of the world’s largest cannon named ‘Jaivana’, it has been restricted to the Jaigarh fort in Jaipur, with royals offering customary puja to it.
Seven cannons
A total of seven cannons are there, four among them are long barrelled and cast in different metals, while three are small, ones made in brass. One among them is believed to be a gift from the then queen of England in 1881, and a crown like engraving on the barrel substantiates it. It was only later, the Wadiyar’s increased the artillery with similar types of cannons. In the run up to Dasara every year, these cannons are overhauled to perfection by the dedicated 30 member unit drawn from City Armed Reserve (CAR) police force. Majority among them have been on the arduous job for over one decade, while five among them are new comers.
Generally, the practice begins 20 days in advance ahead of Jamboo Savari . It starts with the cleaning of the barrel with water and oil, besides checking for residues if any, by inserting stick with a cloth in its end.
The actual rehearsal begins with the acclimatisation of animals -- elephants and horses (belonging to mounted police wing) to the cannon shots.
Unlike balls of gun powder in use earlier, a plastic bag filled with gun powder is put into the barrel through a tiny hole on the top. A sharp object made of iron is used to insert the plastic bag, and break the same later to spill it inside. Each bag will consist of 1.8 kg of gunpowder making for one shot. The gun powder is supplied from Arsikere in Hassan district.
On the D-day, 21 rounds of fire will be shot by three cannons as a mark of respect. The elephant carrying Golden Howdah starts from the Palace. While one cannon will be kept as spare, the remaining three will be taken out in the Jamboo Savari, pulled till Torchlight Parade grounds, the culmination point of the event.
The remaining artillery will be taken to the end point by ‘Tiger’ (the cranes used by the city police four-wheelers parked in prohibited areas during the normal days). Another round of exercise, begins at the Torchlight Parade Grounds, by shooting 21 rounds of fire (in pauses) indicating the beginning of the evening extravaganza. This has also been in practice (lesser rounds) during the car festival at Chamundi Hills.
History
21 rounds of shots using cannons is in practice ever since Raja Wadiyar launched Dasara festival, in continuation of Vijayanagar rulers, in 1610 AD. However, it was in practice even during private durbars and VIP visits as a protocol . According to URS, 21 rounds of shots were fired as soon as the then Maharaja r Wadiyar climbed the howdah as a mark of respect.