Mysuru: The team of eight Mysuru Dasara elephants stationed here at Aranya Bhavan, Ashokapuram were seen in a very relaxed mood enjoying the hospitality.
On Thursday September 16 between 6.00 am and 6.30 am, the Forest Department will offer the jumbos a special puja before they arrive at Mysuru Palace. They will be given a traditional welcome at Jayamarthanda Gate of the Mysuru Palace.
The 8 mahouts and 8 Kavadis with a total of 50 family members including children are camping at palace premises in makeshift tents. The government will also engage teachers for children of mahouts. All the mahouts and Kavadis including family members have been vaccinated.
As normal practice all the elephants were weighed. The team captain 56-year-old Abhimanyu weighed 4270 kgs, 34-year-old Ashwathama participating in Dasara for the first time weighed 3630kgs, 58-year-old Vikrama weighed 3830kgs, 43-year-old Dhananjaya weighed 4050kg,, 44-year-old Kaveri weighed 3220 kgs, 48-year-old Chaitra weighed 2600 kgs 20-year-old elephant Lakshmi weighed 2540 kgs and 38-year-old Gopalaswamy weighed 4420kgs. After the Dasara celebration is over the elephants will be weighed once again.
All the elephants are in good health and they won’t be subjected to Covid test. Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Dr. V. Karikalan was hopeful that this year’s Dasara will be successful. Usually, Navaratri is spread over nine days but this year, it is going to be eight days, according to the Hindu calendar. The festival will be celebrated from October 7 to 15, said Chamundeshwari Temple Chief Priest Dr. Shashishekar Dikshit.
The jumbos were given a grand send-off at Veeeranahosahalli in Hunsur before they began their journey to Mysuru.
