Dasara Elephants were given a warm send off

Leaving memories lakhs of people during festivities and shoring up the events with their majestic presence, the Dasara Elephants from the jungle camps bid adieu to the city of Palace here Sunday.

The Dasara Elephants were given a warm send off.

The 12 elephants from various jungle camps, led by the Ambaari Aane (howdah elephant) 58 year-old Arjuna, camped in the city for the last 60 days for the festivities.

Having put up their best act and lived up to their formidable reputation as the cynosure of all eyes during the 'Jamboo Savari', the elephants relaxed in the ambience of the Palace grounds for three days before embarking on their return journey to the forests along with their mahouts.

The elephants were given a warm send off complete with prayers for their collective welfare and safety by Priests who performed 'Aarti' and applied kumkum and arshina to Arjuna and the other elephants. The Priests chanted 'Ashtottara' and garlanded the elephants while sugarcane and Jaggery were offered as a mark of thanksgiving for their splendid display during the Dasara procession.

The atmosphere on the Palace courtyard was one of excitement as the mahouts backed their belongings in a rush to get back home while the elephants seemed to revel in the ambience with which they are now familiar as most of them are veterans of Mysuru Dasara.

The elephants led by Arjuna was given a traditional farewell by District Administration and Forest officials at the Mysore Palace premises.

Arjuna will head towards Balle camp also in Nagarahole. While Balarama done his work as Pattada Aane (Royal Elephant', will be taken to K Gudi camp in Chamarajanagar, the other elephants also taken back to their respective camps in Mysore and Chamarajanagara forest ranges.

Ahimanyu, a tough task master and renowned to subdue rogue elephants in the wild, will head for the Moorkal camp in Nagarahole.

As a goodwill gesture, the district administration hosted a luncheon for 300 persons including 12 mahouts who looked after the Dasara elephants and 12 Kavadis apart from mahout families.

The Dasara elephants have gained weight substantially owing to the rich and nutrient food provided to them after their arrival from forest camps.

District Administration has given honorarium to all the 35 mahouts, Kavadis and others on the occasion.

Minister for Tourism Sa Ra Mahesh and Deputy Commissioner Abhi Ram B Shankar, speaking on the occasion, thanked the Forest Department and Police for the success of the Dasara festivities. Elephants Gopi, Vijya and Vikram will be remain in the city to participate in the royal family procession tomorrow.

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