Mysuru Dasara: Gajapayana to begin on Aug 22

Bengaluru: The Gajapayana of 12 jumbos, which will take part in the Dasara procession will begin from Veeranahosahalli in Hassan on August 22 with 12 elephants marching to Mysuru.

This year the forest has decided that 12 jumbos will take part in the Dasara procession and have already selected 11 of them based on their health, physique, carrying capacity and temperament.

Speaking on the issue Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Mysuru, M G Alexander said Balarama, a veteran of 23 Dasara processions, will be the nishane elephant, leading the procession and bearing the flag with the emblem of the Royal House of Mysore. He will be followed by Abhimanyu, the naushad. Eeshwara, a first-timer, will fill in for Drona which died recently. Arjuna, considered to be the strongest with magnificent tusks and a flat back, will carry the 750-kg howdah along with 250-kg finery.

Other elephants in the procession include Dhananjaya, Varalakshmi, Kaveri, Vijaya, Durgaparameshwari, Vikrama, the royal elephant, and Gopi.
The jumbos will be welcomed at Amba Vilas Palace on August 26, where they will be housed in waterproof sheds to come up next to the dwellings of mahouts and these elephants will be under training for a period of 42 days.

The training includes, the pachyderms will follow the procession route every day to accustom themselves to the noise and crowds that will multiply by a thousandfold during the procession, informed sources.