Choosing the Desara Elephants

The Dasara Elephants are usually caught by the elephant trainers via the Khedda operation. During the Wodeyar rule, the elephants thus caught were inspected in an open field for strength, personality, and character.

The walking styles, weaknesses to seduction, the facial charisma were some of the factors considered for selection. Then the chosen elephants were trained for the festival. It is said that the king himself would overlook the training. Sometimes abandoned young elephants are also trained for Dasara.


The abode of the elephants during the rest of the year is usually their training camps and the surrounding National Parks. There are around 70 tamed elephants in exclusive camps at Dubare, Hebballa, Moorkal, Kallalla, Nagarahole, Veeranahosahalli, Metikuppe, Sunkadakatte, Bandipur, Moolehole, K. Gudi and Bheemeshwari. About 240 Mahouts and kavadis take care of the needs of these elephants and develop a bond with them. The main tamed elephants are usually set free for the rest of the year and recaptured to participate in the Dasara festivities.

Balarama and the Desara Elephant

The Elephants start arriving to Mysore city in groups. They arrive to Mysore a month or so before the start of the actual festivities and they undergo practice for their march on the final day. The elephants are accompanied by their respective keepers or Mahouts. The elephants are usually brought in trucks and are occasionally walked the 70-km distance from their home base in the Nagarahole National Park to Mysore. Villagers greet the sacred animals all along their designated trekking route. As the each party of pachyderms arrive at the Veerana Hosahalli forest checkpost in Hunsur taluk, from the forest, they are received by the District Minister, a host of officials and prominent persons from Mysore and people from nearby villagers. The villagers perform folk dances, and beat drums and sing songs and welcome the elephants. This in keeping with the royal tradition of the Mysore Maharajas.

While in their respective camps the elephants are served "Ragi mudde", a mixture of ragi and horse gram and fodder branches. But when they are royal guests in the royal city of Mysore preparing for Dasara, they are served with ‘royal’ food till the grand Dasara finale -Jamboo Savari. The elephants get to eat urud dal, greenfram, wheat, boiled rice, onion and vegetables in the mornings and evenings. They get rice, groundnut, coconut, jaggery and sugar cane with some salt to add taste to the diet after they return from their regular rehearsals. This food is served twice a day. They also get branch fodder like banyan leaves. Extra care is taken while serving food to the jumbos. High-calorie and protein-rich food is served to the elephants to improve their physical fitness. They carry a lot of weight at the procession and for that, they need strength. Hence they are fed with rich food. The food served in the morning is laced with pure butter for flavour. Besides nutritious food, vitamin doses are also injected so as to balance the diet. An elephant eats 400 kilograms of fodder in a day in the forests. The food served to them in Mysore contains high calories and is more than what they eat in the jungles.

The Elephants are named in Kannada and have usually the names of Mythological and Historical figures. Balarama is the main elephant of the Festival and the other elephants are 34-year-old Bharatha, Kanthi (62), Gayathri (48), Kokila (56), Sri Rama, Abhimanyu, Gajendra, Biligiriranga, Vikram, Varalakshmi and Sarojini.

Drona--Balarama's predecessor

Stuffed Skull of Elephant Drona
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Drona was one the Lead Dasara Elephants of the Famous Jamboo Savari of Mysore Dasara. He preceded Balarama in carrying the Golden Howdah.

Drona was named after Dronacharya, the great guru of Mahabharata. In the epic, Dronacharya is a priest, but he was so mature and intelligent that he taught warfare for a livelihood. The elephant Drona was named so because of his amazing ability to learn and correct himself.

Drona was captured in a khedda operation in the Kakanakote forest area of H.D. Kote taluk in 1971, Drona was used for a brief period in Shimoga to carry timber. Doddappaji was Drona's Mahout. Doddappaji's association with Drona began from the day it was captured, as his father, Chennakeshavaiah, was in charge of taming it. Having grown up together, he understood the animal better than anyone else.

Drona was first introduced to dasara festivities in 1982 and since then he has set a record for carrying the Golden Howdah for more than a decade consecutively. A handsome creature of massive proportions with tusks that glistened like perfectly shaped swords just unsheathed from their scabbards, he was the cynosure of a million eyes every time he walked, with an imperial gait, at the end of the 2 km long procession on the auspicious Vijayadashami day.

One day in 1998 Drona went grazing in a village of Balle and pulled down a trunk of a tree to eat the leaves. The falling trunk also brought down a high-tension power cable and instantly electrocuted the celebrated bull. Drona was mourned in the Karnataka state just like any other celebrity.

The Mahout Doddappaji, who once handled Drona, has refused to take part in the Dasara festivities since Drona was tragically electrocuted. A third generation mahout and an expert in taming wild elephants, Doddappaji is haunted by memories of Drona. After the death of Drona , he has requested senior officials not to ask him to participate in the "Jamboo Savari." The mahout says he has not come across another elephant that matches the size and strength of Drona, whom people adored for his gentle behaviour.

Drona trivia:

* Drona attained celebrity status in Karnataka for its majestic gait, grace and timid behavior.

* The elephant was very sensitive, he just wouldn’t relish the idea of anybody other than his mahout sitting atop him. Drona would shrug and shake his back, if any of us ‘lesser mortals’ tried hitching a ride.

* Drona had amazing ability to learn and correct himself. When the Golden Howdah shifted left or right during the procession, Drona could move his muscles selectively and stabilize the weight. His trainers were very surprised because they had not trained Drona in this skill.

* Drona also practiced energy conservation techniques, he would walk slow early in the procession to conserve energy.

* Drona had rigid eating habits, he was very particular about his diet, and always ate in solitude.

* Drona's Mahout did not wear slippers while mounting the animal as it was considered sacred.

* Drona had a perfect curve on its back to carry the 800 KG Golden Howdah.

Golden Howda

The Golden Howda (elephant seat or Chinnada Ambari in Kannada) is the carrier mounted on the lead elephant during the Jamboo Savari (Elephant Procession) of the famous Mysore Dasara. It is the cynosure of all eyes during the famous Dasara festivities.

he exact date of its making is not known. The 750-kg-howdah, used in the Jamboo Savari (elephant procession) on the Vijayadashami day, has two wide seats in rows, bigger than the interiors of a family car. The Rajas of Mysore used this howdah in the famous Dasara procession, which traversed through the thoroughfares of the princely city during the festival every year. But since the abolition of royalty the statue of Chamundeshwari is being carried in the howdah. The Howdah is made of Pure gold.

The golden Howdah is mounted on the Lead elephant with the statue of Nadadevathe or State Deity Chamundeshwari place in it. The procession goes through the Mysore sity for about 2 kilometers before terminating. The Elephant carrying the Howdah is trained and groomed to do the job years before it actually does it. Now a days the honor of carrying the Golden howadh and the statue of Chamundeshwari has fallen on Elephant Balarama.

Balarama--Between engagements making guest appearance's and signing autographs.

Balarama--Star of the Dasara Festival at Mysore Palace

Balarama is the lead Elephant of the world famous Mysore Dasara procession and carries the statue of goddess Chamundeshwari on the fabled Golden Howdah. Balarama is a 46 year old bull and is accompanied by other Dasara Elephants.

Of the dozen elephants participating in the procession, Balarama will be the star attraction as he will carry on his back for the fourth year the sacred idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari in the 800-kg golden howdah on the auspicious 10th day of Dasara celebrations.

Balarama was caught in 1987 in the Kattepura forest near somavarpet, Balarama has since taken part in the Dasara procession ten times, carrying the golden howdah five times. He is said to be an introvert, and has to be provided special training so he can withstand the firing of canons that occurs during the festival.

Balarama trivia:

* Balarama refuses food given to him by anybody else other than his Mahout Sannappa.

* Balarama succeeded Elephant Drona for carrying the Golden Howdah.

* Balarama was not the first choice to carry the Howdah after Drona, Elephant Arjuna who was supposed to be the lead Elephant was sidelined for accidentally killing his Mahout. One day Arjuna went to bathe in a river with his buddy Elephant Bahadur and Bahadur's trainer Annayya. While crossing a road, the elephants were startled by a vehicle and in the chaos that ensued, the rider Annayya fell down to the ground, only to be stamped on the his head by Arjuna. He was crushed to death. People opined that an elephant that had killed a man was unfit to carry the religious duties of Dasara. So Arjuna, while being as capable as Drona, never got to be the bearer of the prestige. These days he helps the forest officials trace poachers in the Bandipur National Park forest. Arjuna had the honour of carrying the Chinnada Ambari only once before being replaced by Elephant Balarama.

* Balarama's Mahout Sannappa once refused to mount Balarama as his family members were stopped by the police from watching him ride his Balarama during Dasara.
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"Balarama is as stunning of a bull elephant as you would want to have the honor of gazing upon, but I have often thought, "I'll bet the Mysore Palace would have given half a kingdom, for a guest appearance by King Tusk.""

Second batch of elephants arrives in city of palaces

Mysore, Oct 2, DHNS

The second batch of Dasara elephants arrived at the Palace premises here on Saturday afternoon.

Six jumbos-Srirama, Kanthi, Vikrama, Kavitha, Mary and Harsha were given a ceremonial welcome by the forest officials on their arrival. These elephants would be part of the first batch of jumbos led by howdah elephant Balarama to take part in the Vijayadashami procession, to be held as the grand finale of the nine-day Dasara festivities. In all, the 12 elephants would camp in Palace premises for the next 20 days till the Dasara celebrations come to an end. The mahouts and their families of the six elephants also accompanied the jumbos. The 53-year old Srirama is brought from K Gudi camp and has took part in Dasara for 13 years. While, Kanthi and Kavitha took part in Vijayadasahami for seven times and are brought from the same camp. Vikrama from Dubare camp will be taking part in Dasara for 10th time and Harsha from Dubare has took part in dasara festivities for 11 years. The elephant Mary will be taking part in Dasara for 10th time and is brought from Sunka- dakatte camp(Hunsur). As part of the annual affair, six out of the 12 dasara elephants started their sojourn for Mysore. The first batch of these elephants who include Balarama, Sarala, Varalakshmi, Arjuna, Abhimanyu and Gajendra arrived at Aranya Bhavan in Mysore on Friday evening. The pachyderms will be given a ceremonial reception at the Mysore palace on Monday. District Incharge Minister Suresh Kumar offered a grand valedictory to the elephants. His wife K H Savithri, Hunsur MLA Manjunath, dasara special officer and Deputy Commissioner Harsh Gupta, Mysore Mayor Satish Swamy and senior forest officials along with elected members from taluk and Grama Panchayat and people from surrounding villages joined him. The day was marked with students of Nagapura tribal hamlet presenting a dance to dasara theme song, a Tibetan dance and a folk dance from girls from Morarji Residential School, Hunsur. A Jenukuruba (tribal) dance and Devara Kunitha off the stage also attracted people gathered there. Chairman of Karnataka Housing Board and former minister G T Devegowda joined the folk artistes to tap his foot to the folk tune and songs. The second batch of elephants comprising Srirama, Harsha, Vikram, Kanthi, Mary and Kavitha will arrive in Mysore after a fortnight. For the next one and half month, the dasara elephants would be stay put in Mysore palace till the Jumbo savari ends on Oct 17. Courtesy of Dan Koehl and Elephant News

Past Dasara Festival's at Mysore Palace--Balarama's Howda

Dasara Festival--Mysore Palace

Dasara procession mural at the Mysore Palace of a past Festival. Dates this year for the festival are October 8th to October 17th.

From Wikipedia:

Festivities

The Dasara festivities were first started by the Vijayanagar Kings in 15th Century, after the fall of Vijayanagar Kingdom, The Wodeyar's of Mysore continued the Dasara Festival by, Raja Wodeyar I (1578-1617 CE) in the year 1610 at Srirangapatna^[1]. The Mysore Palace is lit up on all the 10 days of Dasara. The festivities begin with the Wodeyar royal couple performing a special puja to Goddess Chamundeshwari in the Chamundi Temple located on the top of Chamundi Hill at Mysore. This would be followed by a special durbar (royal assembly). It was during the reign of Krishnaraja Wodeyar III in the year 1805, when the king started the tradition of having a special durbar in the Mysore Palace during Dasara; which was attended by members of the royal family, special invitees, officials and the masses. This tradition has been continued even now with the current scion of the Wodeyar family, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar holding a private durbar during Dasara. The ninth day of Dasara called as Mahanavami is also an auspicious day on which the royal sword is worshipped and is taken on a procession involving elephants, camels and horses

Procession

On Vijayadashami, the traditional Dasara procession (locally known as Jumboo Savari) is held on the streets of Mysore city. The main attraction of this procession is the idol of the Goddess Chamundeshwari which is placed on a golden mantapa on the top of a decorated elephant. This idol is worshipped by the royal couple and other invitees before it is taken around in the procession. Colourful tableaux, dance groups, music bands, decorated elephants, horses and camels form a part of the procession which starts from the Mysore Palace and culminates at a place called Bannimantap where the banni tree (Prosopis spicigera) is worshipped. According to a legend of the Mahabharata, banni tree was used by the Pandavas to hide their arms during their one-year period of Agnatavasa (living life incognito). Before undertaking any warfare, the kings traditionally worshipped this tree to help them emerge victorious in the war^[2]. The Dasara festivities would culminate on the night of Vijayadashami with an event held in the grounds at Bannimantap called as Panjina Kavayatthu (torch-light parade)