Mysore:
The first batch of six elephants including howdah elephant Balarama on Friday ambled from the woods marking the beginning of the Dasara-2012.
The elephants will be in Mysore for nearly two months and will participate in the Vijayadashami procession on the last day of Dasara festival celebrations, which is scheduled to commence from October 16.
A traditional pooja was performed before they moved out of woods at Nagarpura, a territorial forest area in Hunsur. Earlier, ‘Gajapayana’ (the ritual of brining elephants from forest for the celebrations) was being conducted at Veeranahosahalli, a tiger reserve in Nagarahole National Park but this time authorities changed the venue for ‘Gajapayana’ following supreme court direction to ban activities in tiger reserve area.
On the occasion, the students of a tribal school and Tibetans presented a cultural performance at the venue, some 60 kms away from Mysore.
Wildlife division DCF S N Devaraja told TOI that four elephants from Nagapura – Balarama, Abhimanyu, Arujuna and Vijaya and two from K Gudi – Srirama and Gajendra have reached Mysore safely. They were transported in separate trucks from forest areas. They will traditionally welcomed inside Mysore Palace where they will stay put till Dasara concludes on September 10.
The second batch of six elephants will arrived three weeks before the celebrations.
Siddeshwara Swamiji to inaugurate Dasara
District minister S A Ramdas who inaugurated the traditional ceremony at Nagapura announced that this year Sri Siddeshwara Swamiji of Jnanayogashrama Mutt, Bijapur, will inaugurate the Dasara celebrations atop the Chamundi Hills on October 16. The minister said earlier they had selected litterateur S L Byrappa to open the celebrations but as Byrappa will be busy attending a literary meet in Japan during the time he will be not available for the inauguration.
On the occasion, district minister presented title deeds to five families who were relocated from reserved forest areas under central government rehabilitation scheme. Each family received ownership documents of five acre land outside the protected forest area and soon the district administration will offer possession certificate to other members of tribal community.
Meet the jumbos
Balarama: He was trapped in Kattepura village forest in Kodagu district in 1987. Balarama, aged 54 years, has been participating in Dasara since 16 years and carrying golden howdah since 12 years. He hails from Thithimathi elephant camp and weighs 4950 kilos.
Abhimanyu:He was caught at Hebballa forest in Kodagu district in 1977. Abhimanyu, 46 years, is being used in operations to tame other wild elephants and he has been participating in Dasara since 13 years. He weighs nearly 4320 kilos.
Arjuna:The 52-year-old tusker was caught in Kheda operation at Kakanakote forest in 1968. He has carried golden howdah once. He comes from Balle elephant camp and weighs 4820 kilos.
Gajendra (57):This elephant was caught during an operation at Kattepura in Kodagu in 1987. Gajendra, the ‘Pattada ane’ has been participating in Dasara procession since 15 years. He is around 4560 kilos
Srirama :He was caught from Thithimathi forest in Kodagu in 1969. He is strong and courageous. Srirama, 55 years, is used in pooja at Mysore Palace. This is his 16 thparticipation in dasara. He weighs nearly 4450 kilos
Vijaya:She was caught in Dubare forest in 1963. The 54-year-old is mild in nature and she is taking part in Dasara since 7 years. She weighs nearly 3250 kilos.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Mysore / by Lawrence Milton, TNN / September 07th, 2012
