Mysuru: Arjuna, who has been the lead elephant and the carrier of the Golden Howdah at the Mysore Dasara from 2012 will be replaced by Abhimanyu, the strongest elephant in Mattigodu elephant camp.
Arjuna had tuned 60 and hence was being replaced by 54-year-old Abhimanyu, informed Assistant Conservator of Forests, Mysuru, Alexander, who is in charge of Dasara elephants.
While Abhimanyu will carry the 750-kg Golden Howdah in Mysuru Dasara procession this year, Vikram, Harsha, Vijaya, Cauvery, and Gopi from Dubare elephant camp in Kushalnagar are selected to accompany Abhimanyu in the procession.
Abhimanyu is the second elephant from the Mattigodu camp to carry golden Howdah. Balarama from the same camp carried the howdah for several years in the past.
Arjuna became the leading contender after he beat Balarama in the rehearsals of carrying the howdah, for five kilometers between Mysuru Palace and Bannimantap, by 45 minutes.
