August 27, 2011

Stars of Team Dasara

R. Krishna Kumar

It is that time of the year when elephants from the jungle camps make their annual sojourn to the city for their tryst with Mysore Dasara. And leading the herd as always is the ebullient and soft-natured Balarama who will have the distinction of participating and carrying the golden howdah during the Vijayadashmi procession. Elephants have this unique association with Dasara since historical times and the Maharajas used to procure elephants from distant places such as Myanmar (Burma) as evident in some of the correspondence preserved in the Palace Archives. The Maharajas used to visit Nagarahole and Dubare as also other camps and offer prayers for the safe journey of the elephants from the jungles to the city as also for the smooth conduct of the festivities. As Nagendra, a priest associated with the royal family, explained: The kings used to worship at the Anjaneyaswamy temple on the outskirts of Nagarahole camp and offer special prayers for the welfare of the people and seek divine benediction for the elephants. The elephants would then march from the jungle camps to the palace, covering the route over two or three days. En route, the arrival of elephants would be announced by the courtiers, and the public would offer coconuts, sugarcane etc. This entire process was known as Gajapayana. However, after the abolition of the privy purse and the monarchy, the practice was disbanded, only to be revived in recent years. However, the concept is symbolic as the elephants march only a little distance and from Veeranahosahalli, they are brought to Mysore in trucks. Notwithstanding the change in tradition, the association of the elephants continue to be important in Mysore Dasara and some of them have acquired a star status over the years.

A case in point is Balarama who measures 2.7 metres in height. Reckoned to be in his mid-50s, he was captured in Kattepura forests in 1987 and has been recognised as a strong and mature elephant, given to cool temperament and not easily disturbed or agitated; hence he was the ideal choice to succeed the venerable Drona who met a tragic death, being electrocuted in the jungles. Balarama is a veteran and has participated in Dasara on 16 occasions with the distinction of carrying the golden howdah on 12 consecutive occasions so far. Equally majestic is Abhimanyu who is 45 years old and measures 2.68 metres and belongs to the Moorkal camp in Nagarahole. He was captured in Hebbala forests in Kodagu in 1977 and is recognised for being valiant and daring. It is to Abhimanyu that the Forest Department personnel turn to, when they need to trap or capture rogue elephants. In the Mysore Dasara, Abhimanyu has the distinction of pulling the musical chariot at the fag end of the procession. Meet Gajendra who is a veteran in his own right at 56 years, is senior to most of the elephants in the group. He stands tall at 2.84 metres and is housed in the Sunkadakatte elephant camp during the non-Dasara period. Trapped in 1987 in Kattepura forests, Gajendra is an expert in taming wild and rogue elephants and constitutes the core team along with Abhimanyu. He has participated in Mysore Dasara on 15 occasions and has been conferred the distinction of Pattada Aane. Arjuna is another veteran with a strong personality and at 51 years stands tall at 2.80 metres. Weighing around 4,750 kg, Arjuna is housed in Balle elephant camp and is among the last surviving elephants captured in the 1968 khedda operations. He succeeded Drona and had the honour of carrying the howdah once but was banished from the festivities for a long time after he killed the mahout in a fit of anger. Mary (54) too was captured in the khedda and at 54, has participated in Mysore Dasara on 10 occasions and assists the Forest Department in timber operations. But the new star of this year's elephants is Gange who is only 14 years old and has come from Balle elephant camp. She is the daughter of Mary and is participating in Dasara for the first time. Sarala is the seniormost of the elephants and at 69 years is on the verge of retirement. She was captured in 1968 in Kakanakote forests and has participated in Dasara on 12 occasions. R. Krishna Kumar

MYSORE, August 27, 2011

Training begins for Mysore Dasara elephants

Special Correspondent The festivities will be held from September 28 to October 6

Getting ready: The Dasara elephants led by Balarama undergoing rehearsals for the festivities in Mysore on Friday.

The authorities and elected representatives may be complacent and even indifferent towards Dasara and the need for preparations. But the gentle giants from the jungle camps led by tusker Balarama are not taking any chances. Though these elephants are veterans, having participated in Mysore Dasara for more than a decade and can be trusted to do the chores, they have begun their training under their respective mahouts for the festivities which will held from September 28 to October 6. The day of the elephants begins at the crack of dawn when they saunter around the palace courtyards and later head towards the Balarama Gate from where they make their way along the road to hit the K.R. Circle. From here, the elephants walk along the Sayyaji Rao Road and cross the Highway Circle to reach Bannimantap Grounds after covering nearly 4 km. This is followed by the return march along the same route and it is conducted without fail under the supervision of veterinary doctors and a battery of elephant experts from the Forest Department. In the days ahead, the second batch of another six elephants will join them after which the gentle giants will be put through weight training'.

Balarama has to balance more than 750 kilos that includes the golden Howdah and the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari. The training entails a graduated increase in the load on Balarama over the next few weeks so that he is battle-fit for the Vijayadashmi procession. Not withstanding the cacophony along the route and the traffic congestion, the elephants have so far displayed poise and grace in their daily walkathon as they brace up for the festival. Given the sad state of civic affairs, can the same be said about the organisers is the question doing the rounds in the city. Another batch will join these elephants in the coming days They will also be put through weight training