Mysuru Dasara 2024: Elephants stand calm and composed amidst thunderous canon fire!

Mysuru: As the grand Mysuru Dasara celebrations draw near, the first round of firecracker training for the elephants and horses was successfully conducted at the Dasara Exhibition Grounds on Thursday. This drill is essential to prepare the animals for the loud sounds they will encounter during the iconic Jumboo Savari.

During the Vijayadashami procession, it is customary to fire 21 cannon shots in honor of Goddess Chamundeshwari seated in the Ambari. A series of firecracker drills were conducted to ensure the elephants and the horse cavalry did not get startled by the noise. The first round took place in the parking area of the exhibition grounds.

The drill involved 14 elephants led by Ambari elephant Abhimanyu, and 35 horses, with 21 shots fired from 7 cannons. While most of the elephants, including Abhimanyu, displayed courage and remained calm, a few, such as Rohith and Hiranya, were startled by the loud sound. However, they quickly regained their composure.

Elephants Show Courage, Some Startled:

The elephants were lined up in a row with senior member Varalakshmi at the rear. The 35 horses were placed on one side. The drill began after DCP Mutturaj gave the green light and fired the first cannon shot. Elephants like Abhimanyu, Sugriva, and Varalakshmi stood firm despite the booming sound, while Dhananjaya and Prashanth were momentarily startled but soon steadied. However, Rohith and Hiranya were visibly shaken and backed off.

The mahouts quickly reassured the anxious elephants, and by the second and third rounds, they had mostly acclimatized to the noise. As a precaution, all elephants except Abhimanyu, Mahendra, and Bhima were chained by the leg. Meanwhile, the cavalry riders controlled the startled horses.

Ekalavya and Lakshmi Show Impressive Calm:

Despite being first-time participants in the Dasara festivities, Ekalavya and Dodda Harave Lakshmi displayed impressive calmness, handling the loud cannon sounds with the poise of experienced elephants. As usual, Abhimanyu, the captain of the Gajapade, remained unfazed and led with confidence, moving forward with each round of firecrackers.

The firecracker drill was supervised by a team of 30 personnel from the Armed Reserve Force, and hundreds of spectators gathered to witness the event with great enthusiasm. Officials including DCF Basavaraju, RFO Santosh Hugar, and elephant doctor Mujib Rehman were present.

Drone Mishap:

A small drone camera used by the Forest Department to capture the drill footage accidentally collided with birds in mid-air and fell amidst the elephants and spectators. The Forest Department staff quickly retrieved the drone without any issues.

Special Pooja for the Gajapade:

Before the drill, the elephants were welcomed from the Palace Grounds with traditional Veeragase and musical instruments. Priests led by Prahlad Rao washed the feet of the elephants and performed a special pooja with turmeric and kumkum. Flowers were offered, and the elephants were fed bananas as part of the rituals. Several dignitaries, including Ayub Khan, Chairman of the Dasara Exhibition Authority, and CEO Rudresh, were present.

“The first round of firecracker training has been successfully completed to acclimatize the elephants and horses to the loud sounds. By the third round, they will be fully accustomed. Mahendra, Lakshmi, and Hiranya are being considered for the Srirangapatna Dasara procession, while the Jamboo Savari elephants will be finalized soon,” said DCF Dr. I.B. Prabhugowda.

“The elephants have shown great courage, and two more rounds of firecracker drills will be conducted on September 29 and October 1,” said DCP Mutturaj.