Mysuru: Ahead of Dasara, the first six contingent elephants arrived on Friday September 4.
The contingent of elephants were led by 55-year-old Arjuna weighs 5000 kgs who will carry the 750-kg golden howdah during the Dasara procession on 23 October.
The other five elephants were Balarama (57) from Thithimathi weigs 4950 kgs, Abhimanyu (49) from thithimathi weighs 4650kgs, Vikrama (42) 3820kgs, Chaithra(44) 3462kgs and Cauvery(37) 3152 kgs.
Brought in trucks from their respective jungle camps, the gentle giants were welcomed with a pooja ceremony performed by Forest officers at the Aranya Bhavan.
The district administration will formally welcome the Jumbos on September 7 at Jayamarthanda gate of Mysuru Palace between 9.30 am to 10.30 am. District in Charge Minister V Srinivasa Prasad, DC C Shikha will be among the guests.
Arjuna who started his journey from Nagarahole was given a traditional bid by the tribals and the forest officers. The mahouts and kavadis and their family members too arrived, and they will be put up in temporary sheds in the palace surroundings.
However, the Forest department has confirmed that no budget will be cut down for the jumbo’s team during their stay in the city.
Balarama has carried the ‘Ambari’ 13 times in a row and has participated in Dasara for the last 19 years.
