JOIN USThis Dasara, vets face elephantine challenge
Unlike previous years, preparations for Nada Habba Dasara (October 5 to 14) this year have begun well in advance. On the flip side, veterinarians have an elephantine challenge -- in preparing the jumbos for the mega event in a short span of time.
Following the election code of conduct in the district due to the recently concluded by-elections to Lok Sabha from Mandya seat (K R Nagar in Mysore district comes under Mandya parliamentary seat) and to the Legislative Council from Mysore-Chamarajanagar local bodies segment, Gajapayana (departure of first batch of six elephants) to the city of palaces is scheduled for August 28.
Owing to this, the veterinarians have been left with a shorter duration (of 46 days) against the 60 days they used to get earlier, to ready the jumbos for the D-day.
The first batch of pachyderms get the ‘royal’ treatment, for the group consists of lead elephants like ‘howdah’ elephant, ‘nishaane’ elephant and ‘kumkis’ (females) which amble on the either side of the howdah carrier, and pull the ‘aane gaadi’, comprising the music band, on the five km long procession route.
Time constraint
Sources told Deccan Herald that due to time constraint, the elephants will be fed additional quantity of food (half kg more).
The jumbos are fed in the morning and evening hours (6 am and 6 pm) with pulses like ‘Uddina Kaalu’ and ‘Hesaru Kaalu’, ‘Kusubalakki’ (boiled rice) and wheat (each three kilos), after the boiling them along with onion. To enhance the taste, vegetables and ghee will be added.
After the elephants are fed, they are taken out on rehearsal, to acclimatise them with the procession route, which passes through Chamarajendra Wadiyar circle, K R Circle, Sayyaji Rao road, Government Ayurvedic Hospital Circle and culminating at Bannimantap (Torchlight Parade ground). After returning from the rehearsal the elephants are fed again, but with a changed menu. They are fed two coconuts, jaggery (half kg) and fodder with dried grass (10.30 and 4 pm).
Some changes have to be made to the rehearsal too. Earlier, sand bags were put on the jumbos to enable them sustain the weight for longer hours after 10 days of their arrival. This time, the timing could be advanced, sources said.
Though there will be a fixed target to increase the weight of the jumbos from a minimum of 250 kg to maximum 500 kg, focus will be more on male elephants, as they are more used to taking up arduous tasks.