Mysuru: Sannappa, also known as Mahesh will be the mahout of Arjuna which will be carrying the golden howdah on Vijayadashami day for the sixth consecutive year on Tuesday, October 11. Sannappa is the son of Dodda Masti who passed away recently and was mahout of Arjuna for nearly 16 years.
Confirming the information to NewsKarnataka, Ganesh Bhat, Deputy Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) said, “After accessing performance and attachment of elephants, we have decided to give the responsibility to Sannappa who is also called Mahesh to be the mahout of Arjuna which will be carrying the golden howdah on Tuesday”. To start with, the responsibility was vested with Vinu as mahout while Sannappa as Kavadi to Arjuna.
Sannappa is not new to Arjuna
Along with Dodda Masti, Sannappa was looking after Arjuna, the mighty and majestic Dasara howdah elephant as Kavadi for the past 12 years. Vinu who was recently promoted as Mahout is handling Arjuna for the first time since August 1. For Sannappa, the Dasara mood is not new. Before joining government services, he was the caretaker of elephants owned by the royal family members. Along with his father Dodda Masti, he handled Arjuna well for the past 12 years. On the other side, Vinu, who is the son of Doddappaji, who successfully handled Drona, the most successful elephant which carried the golden howdah for 18 consecutive years before the elephant was electrocuted while grazing in 1998, is also having good experience in handling elephants. Vinu, took the responsibility of Mahout from August 1.
Every mahout or kavadi cannot handle Arjuna as it needs special attention because of his temperamental character. Even senior mahouts who are having vast experience are scared to handle Arjuna.
