Mysuru: With 45 days remaining for the Mysuru Dasara Jamboo Savari procession, the Forest Department began the second stage of training for the participating elephants on Sunday. Officials have started preparing three male elephants to carry the weight equivalent to the 750-kg golden howdah during the Vijayadashami procession.
Mahendra carries 500-kg load
With 60-year-old Abhimanyu being relieved of heavy-duty responsibilities, officials are primarily training Mahendra, Dhananjaya and Prashantha to take over the demanding role.
On Sunday evening, 42-year-old Mahendra carried a 500-kg sandbag along the entire 4.8-km Jamboo Savari route, from Mysuru Palace to the Bannimantap Torchlight Parade Ground.
The elephants left the Palace premises at around 5 pm and returned at 8.45 pm. A large number of people gathered along the route to catch a glimpse of the elephants undergoing their preparations.
For the training, officials placed a cushion made of hay straw and namda, a material made from coconut fibre, over Mahendra. A charjam, or iron cradle, was then tied to the elephant, with the 500-kg sandbag placed on top.
A lubricated leather pad was positioned near the elephant’s ears to prevent the rope used to secure the charjam from causing injuries.
Dhananjaya and Prashantha will subsequently undergo similar training on alternate days. The weight will be increased gradually as the elephants become accustomed to the load.
Training to prepare elephants for golden howdah
The training will eventually progress to carrying a load equivalent to the 750-kg golden howdah using a wooden howdah. Officials will assess the performance and comfort of all three elephants before selecting the lead elephant for the Vijayadashami procession.
The elephants will also be familiarised with the sound of cannon fire. Brass barrels will be used to create the sound during training, as 21 rounds of cannon fire are traditionally fired during the Jamboo Savari.
The cannon firing takes place when the Chief Minister offers a floral tribute to the idol of Goddess Sri Chamundeshwari Devi placed inside the golden howdah.
The final decision on which elephant will carry the golden howdah will be taken during the final rehearsal before the procession.
According to DCF I B Prabhugowda, Mahendra, Dhananjaya and Prashantha have previously served as second-line elephants and were trained as backups alongside Abhimanyu. He said all three are capable of taking up the responsibility.
Mahendra has five years of Dasara experience
Mahendra, who is 42 years old, was rescued in 2018 from the Ramanagar forest range. This year marks his fifth year of participation in Mysuru Dasara.
He has also served as the wooden howdah carrier during Srirangapatna Dasara. Forest officials describe Mahendra as calm and composed even when surrounded by large crowds, an important quality for an elephant participating in the Jamboo Savari procession.
His ability to remain steady amid crowds, traffic and loud noises is expected to be an advantage as the training progresses.
Thirteen elephants to participate this year
A total of 13 elephants will participate in this year’s Mysuru Dasara celebrations, including Abhimanyu.
The first batch of nine elephants arrived at Aranya Bhavan in Mysuru following the traditional Gajapayana event held at Veeranahosahalli in Hunsur taluk on August 26. They received a traditional welcome at the Mysuru Palace on August 28 and have been housed there since then.
Their weights were checked and their special diet was introduced from August 30. Training also began on the same day.
Initially, the elephants were familiarised with the crowds, vehicle noise and the procession route from the Palace to Government Ayurveda College Circle. This phase continued until September 4.
On September 5, the elephants were taken along the complete Jamboo Savari route up to the Bannimantap ground, further preparing them for the conditions they will encounter on Vijayadashami.
The nine elephants currently housed at the Palace include male elephants Srikanta, Ekalavya, Dhananjaya, Mahendra, Prashantha, Gopi and Srirama, along with female elephants Lakshmi and Cauvery.
Two more elephants are expected to arrive as part of the second batch.
Abhimanyu to take on special role
Although Abhimanyu will no longer be assigned the heavy responsibility of carrying the golden howdah, the veteran elephant will continue to be part of the Dasara celebrations.
At 60, Abhimanyu has been relieved from the physically demanding howdah-carrying duty. He has instead been finalised for a special role as the Nishaane elephant, a position that will serve as a mark of honour and a majestic farewell to the veteran.
Abhimanyu is expected to arrive in Mysuru around 15 days before Dasara.
Meanwhile, the focus will remain on preparing Mahendra, Dhananjaya and Prashantha for the demanding role. The gradual increase in weight, exposure to crowds and traffic, and familiarisation with cannon fire are all part of ensuring that the selected elephant is physically and mentally prepared for the historic Jamboo Savari procession.
With the final rehearsal still ahead, the Forest Department will closely monitor the three elephants before deciding who will carry the golden howdah on Vijayadashami.