Elephants are a vital part of Mysuru Dasara. Right from welcoming them to Mysuru a month before the festival, nurturing them with care and love, watching them walk with pride in our roads, looking at them getting decked up on the day of Vijayadashami and to bidding them an emotional adieu afterhe festival, everything about Dasara elephants is cute and heart-warming.
Elephants used to carry erstwhile Kings of Mysuru on a Golden Howdah during Jamboo Savari. This practice gradually changed and the idol of Chamundeshwari was placed inside the Howdah. There are few interesting facts about Dasara elephants which are worth knowing about. Some of them are listed below.
This is how they’re trained:
Forest elephants will be caught by professionals through a special operation called ‘Khedda’. After catching these elephants, officials and experts train elephants to behave in a civilised way. After years of training at camps, they are brought to the festival as side performers first. Based on their capabilities and behaviour, they will be eligible to carry the Golden Howdah.
Some of them made it to Silver Screen!:
Iravatha, a dasara elephant was featured in a movie called ‘The Elephant Boy’ which was released worldwide in the year 1937. Mysuru Sabu, a 7 year old boy played the lead role in this film. Drona, the elephant which carried Golden Howdah for 18 years was featured in the series called ‘The Sword of Tippu Sultan’. Another Dasara elephant, Rajendra was featured in the famous kannada movie ‘Gandhada Gudi’. It is said that Dr.Rajkumar as fond of Gajendra.
Biligiri – The last elephant to carry Mysuru Maharaja on it:
Biligiri was the most mammoth elephant among those which have carried Golden Howdah so far. It was around 10 ft. tall & weighed approximately 7,000 kgs. Biligiri was the last one to carry erstwhile king on its back. HH Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar was the last one to be seated on the Golden Howdah during Jamboo Savari before the privy purse was abolished.
Arjuna – The mischievous one
Arjuna was an elephant who carried Golden Howdah after Drona once. He is the most mischievous one in the troop. He was abandoned from Dasara for one year as he had killed a Mahout. After that, he returned and carried Golden Howdah for several years.
Balarama – The Calm one
Balarama is known as the most calm and decent elephant among those who has carried Golden Howdah so far. He was introverted. He used to eat food given by his mahout only. He was the succeeded by Arjuna and preceded by Drona.
Abhimamyu – The current favourite
The present Dasara Howdah Elephant Abhimanyu is a champion in all the forest operations including umpteen tiger captures and has also managed the Dasara affairs successfully. He is a fearless Combing Operation Specialist and is housed in Mathigodu Elephant Camp in Kodagu district. Abhimanyu never allows anyone to venture near it except for his Mahout, Vasanth and Kavadi Raju. He started Dasara participation by pulling the Police Band carriage during Jumboo Savari.
It’s a visual treat to watch their majestic walk in front of the palace every morning; They are made to walk in main roads as well during evenings. People eagerly wait to take the glimpses of them during their month-long stay in Mysore. They are nothing less than celebrities to Mysurians!