Second batch of Dasara elephants to reach Palace on August 31

Debutants Krishna, Drona to participate in Jamboo Savari

As Dasara is nearing, the second batch of Dasara elephants, including debutants Krishna and Drona, are all set to leave their respective camps. The elephants will reach Mysuru Palace on August 31 to take part in the Jamboo Savari scheduled for September 30.

The second batch, including Gopalaswamy, 35, Vikrama, 44, Gopi, 35, Harsha, 50, Krishna, 56, Drona, 35 and Prashanth, 61, all male elephants, will join the first batch and stay with them till the Dasara festivities conclude.

The first batch, comprising howdah elephant Arjuna, Balarama, Abhimanyu, Bheema, Gajendra, Kaveri, Varalakshmi and Vijaya, are already preparing for the Jamboo Savari. The first phase of Gajapayana, the ceremonial journey of the Dasara elephants to Mysuru, was held on August 12 from Nagapura tribal hamlet, under Gurupura Grama Panchayat, in Hunsur taluk.

Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) V Yedukondalu said that the second batch of elephants are healthy and ready to move towards Mysuru city. During their stay in Mysuru, the elephants will undergo rigorous training to make the Jamboo Savari on Vijayadashami a grand success.

According to the DCF, all the three new elephants — Bheema, 17, Krishna and Drona — all attached to the Mattigodu elephant camp under Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, would participate in the procession. “This time all the 15 elephants would take part in the procession,” he said.

The three new elephants were good performers on the field and their performance in Dasara needs to be checked. However, Bheema, who is already attending the rehearsal, is performing well and the performance of Krishna and Drona will be watched, the DCF said.

In order to keep the elephants physically fit, they will be offered a balanced diet and nutritious food including urad dal, green gram, wheat, boiled rice, onion, vegetables, rice, groundnut, coconut, jaggery and sugarcane during the rehearsals.

About Krishna, Drona

Krishna was captured in a ‘khedda’ operation in Kelahalli forest in 1970. He has played a prominent role in capturing rogue elephants in Karnataka as well as in other states. Krishna was a 9-year-old elephant when he was captured.

Drona was captured at Madalli forest under Hesaluru Forest Range under Hassan division. He was often used in operations at times of man-animal conflict.

Puja to Dasara elephants

On the occasion of Ganesha festival on Friday, Dasara elephants received a special puja on the Mysuru Palace premises. Mayor M J Ravikumar, MLA M K Somashekar, Deputy Commissioner D Randeep, DCF Yedukondalu, along with their family members, offered puja. The jumbos were offered fruits, sugarcane, jaggery and coconut. The officials distributed clothes and sweets to the mahouts and kavadis.