Forest department begins selection of elephants for Dasara jumbo savari

The Forest department has commenced the process of selecting elephants for the upcoming Mysuru Dasara festival.

This year, Dasara begins on October 7 and concludes on October 15.

The Forest department authorities have shortlisted 14 elephants, 11 male and three female for the Dasara procession. The fitness report of the jumbos from the veterinarians is awaited.

The preparation for Dasara commences two months earlier to prepare elephants for the grand procession. However the state government is yet to decide on the scale in which Mysuru Dasara will be celebrated this year.

It maybe recalled that last year the celebrations were held in a low-key manner and only 5 elephants led the Vijayadashami procession (jamboo savari), the last leg of the famed ‘Naada Habba.’

Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), Wildlife, Mysuru Division, V Karikalan said that mahouts and kaavadis – the caretakers of the elephants – will be vaccinated for Covid-19.