Bengaluru : Tragically, on Monday during an elephant capture operation, Arjuna, the sixty-three-year-old elephant that carried the Golden Howdah of Goddess Chamundeshwari during the ancient Mysuru Dasara celebrations, passed away.
On Monday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his sadness, saying he was hurt to learn of Arjuna’s passing. Having taken part in the Jamboo Savari eight times, Arjuna gained popularity and carried the 750-kg Golden Howdah in the procession with composure. After a battle with a rogue tusker, Arjuna was killed.
CM Siddaramaiah emphasized Arjuna’s significant service to Goddess Chamundeshwari and the lasting image of his majestic walk amid lakhs of people during the procession.
Former CM Basavaraja Bommai expressed condolences, stating that Gajaraja Arjuna who carried the Golden Howdah eight times during Dasara, lost his life in an operation to capture a wild elephant. Bommai prayed for the soul of Arjuna to rest in peace.
After suffering fatal injuries from a wild elephant in Hassan, Arjuna passed away on Monday. In order to carry out the operation to capture the unruly wild elephant in Yeslur, Arjuna was brought to Hassan. The wild elephant attacked Arjuna from the front during the operation after sharpshooters tranquilized it with a dart, killing him.
During a Khedda operation in the Kakanakote forest in 1968, Arjuna was apprehended. Prior to retiring in 2020 after serving for 60 years, he carried the Golden Howdah.
