Farewell ceremony conducted for Captain Abhimanyu-led Mysuru Dussehra elephant squad

Mysuru: Captain Abhimanyu and the elephant squad, who successfully conducted the Jumbo Savari at the Mysuru Dussehra 2020, were given the official farewell at the palace premises on Wednesday, October 28.

After the farewell ceremony, the elephants and the entire team managing the elephants left for their forest camps.

Abhimanyu left for the Mattigodu camp; Kaveri, Vikram and Gopi left for the Dubare camp and Vijaya left for the Anekadu camp. 5 separate trucks carried them to their destinations.

As nobody was allowed to enter the palace premises, people were standing on the roads shouting and cheering as the elephants left.

Before the traditional farewell ceremony, forest and palace officials bathed the elephants, performed pooja and conducted the bad omen removal ritual by smashing an ash gourd.

Then all the elephants were fed sugarcane and other fruits. The staff handling the elephants were also given breakfast. Yaduvir Krishnadatta Chamraj Wodeyar, DCF Alexander, palace security ACP Chandrashekhar and veterinarian Dr Nagaraju were present during these activities.

The Forest Department paid the elephant management staff Rs. 2,500 each, 25 kilograms rice bag and a food packet.