Elephants of Mysuru Dasara poised to carry forward the golden legacy

The countdown for the Vijayadashmi procession, which marks the grand finale of the Mysuru Dasara, has begun and all eyes at the moment are on the light giants from the jungle camps who’re rehearsing for the Jamboo Savari since August.

Led by veteran tusker Abhimanyu — who’s slated to hold the 750 kg golden howdah with the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari on October 2, 2025 — 14 elephants shall be a part of the grand procession which is able to start from the Amba Vilas Palace and culminate at Bannimantap.

For a lot of, the grandeur of Mysuru Dasara rests not solely on the royal pageantry and the cultural programmes however within the power and the dignity personified by the caparisoned elephants who’re an intrinsic a part of the pageant since time immemorial.

Abhimanyu and his predecessors

Whereas Abhimanyu — who shall be carrying the golden howdah for the sixth time in a row — will hog the limelight, he has inherited the mantle from his illustrious predecessors all of whom had been stars in their very own proper.

This consists of Arjuna, a legendary elephant who had carried the golden howdah 9 instances and retired in 2020, however died in an operation he led to seize rogue elephants in Hassan in December 2023.

Earlier than Arjuna was Balarama, recognized for his majestic look and given to calm disposition, who had carried the golden howdah from 2000 to 2011.

However the document for carrying the howdah most variety of instances rests with Drona. It was the ‘Ambaari Aane’ or the howdah elephant 18 instances from 1980 to 1998. It died underneath tragic circumstances on coming into contact with a stay electrical wire in 1998 whereas foraging for fodder close to the jungle camps.

Giving firm to Abhimanyu as Kumki elephants this 12 months shall be Kaveri and Roopa. The opposite elephants that represent the jumbo brigade embrace Dhananjaya who’s designated because the Nishane elephant. Gopi is the Naupat elephant and they are going to be adopted by Mahendra, Srikantha, Bheema, Ekalavya, Prashanth, Sugriva and Hemavathi.

Abhimanyu will carry the golden howdah and the roles of every elephant collaborating within the procession have been outlined.
| Picture Credit score:
Sriram M.A.

Weight coaching, sound famaliarisation

All of the elephants have been put via intensive coaching since August, and it included their day by day march from the palace to the Bannimantap Grounds to get acclimatised to the din and noise of town, and the sight of individuals and the cheering crowd. A key ingredient within the protected navigation of the elephants via the roads is the bond they’ve with their respective mahouts.

Aside from the common drill of protecting the procession route, Abhimanyu and Mahendra had been educated to hold weight and get habituated to bearing 750 kg on their backs, being the burden of the golden howdah. Whereas Abhimanyu will mantle the accountability of carrying the howdah, it’s a follow to have one other male elephant prepared as a standby in case of any unexpected developments.

Different trials undergone by the elephants embrace familiarisation to the sound of the canon firing, giving salute to the visitors on the podium and many others. The final rehearsal earlier than the procession day was held on September 30 and included police band marching to the tune of the classical compositions.