The final procession was led by Peggy, one of our group, as the first to enter the lobby.
She was followed by a cow!
The Hindu priest in charge started the process Thursday evening and stayed up all night chanting and feeding the sacred fire and guiding the hotel staff in their ritual responsibilties. He was very receptive to all us onlookers, even pausing occasionally to explain the proceedings and asking our participation in the "public" chants.
At times yesterday (Friday), as our tour bus rumbled through the countryside, sometimes bumping along short stretches of packed dirt roadway, we felt like pioneers headed West rather than travelers enroute to Mysore. But along the way we stopped at a “cow wash” and again were able to observe rural life, this time in an area of India dominated by sugar cane and rice cultivation. 
A late riverside lunch was a welcome respite just outside our final destination, and one of our best dining experiences brought the day to very satisfying conclusion.
The highlight of the day for Lee was climbing up the 628 steps leading to a Jain temple at Shravanabelagola housing an image of Gomateshwara, one of the religious group's most important saints and a major pilgrimage objective for Jains from all over the country. Heidi and several others watched the ascent from the foot of the hill, having decided against being carried up on litters to view the thousand year old 57 foot tall statue firsthand.
Following our arrival in Mysore and prior to dinner, we walked through a huge local market, always a photographer's paradise, particularly this time around since folks were preparing for Diwali, the festival of lights being celebrated all weekend long.
Before bed, as well, we watched fireworks light up the city (despite the intervening intermittent showers) from our sixth floor hotel room window and (on the way to dinner) were able to see (from a distance) Mysore Palace all lit up, totally outlined in twinkling white lights!
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