Golden Howdah tilts to left as it was hurriedly fastened; skilful Abhimanyu manages with self-adjustment

Mysore/Mysuru: A dispute between the Police and the Forest Department’s elephant caretakers took place just before the ‘Jumboo Savari’ procession last evening, resulting in a delay in bringing Arjuna, the ‘Nishane Aane,’ to lead the procession.

The altercation began when a Forest Department vehicle was stopped during a ritual with the elephants. Reports indicate that the Police stopped the vehicle of Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) from entering the Palace and the Police allegedly obstructed the Mahouts to carry out their responsibilities, sparking the argument. Moreover, the DCF was allegedly pulled by his shoulders by one of the Cops.

Mahouts questioned the Police’s decision to block the DCF’s vehicle while allowing free entry to all Police vehicles, despite existing restrictions. They alleged continuous harassment by Police during Dasara, even though they possessed official passes. A significant point of contention was when the Police put up a barricade to prevent the DCF’s vehicle from entering, a move seen as an insult to the officer.

The dispute reached a point where frustrated Mahouts threatened to abandon their duties, suggesting that the Police conduct the Dasara ceremony themselves. A video capturing the intense exchange made its way onto social media platforms, provoking outrage among the public.

Mahouts boldly challenged the Police, stating: “You can manage Dasara on your own; we will depart.” They even threatened to release the elephants. Despite efforts at reconciliation by Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Dr. Malathi Priya and DCFs Basavaraju and Saurabh Kumar, Mahouts remained resolute, insisting Police proceed with the elephant procession by tying the Golden Howdah on Abhimanyu.

As the deadlock persisted, senior Police officers intervened to calm the situation, explaining that some Policemen from outside the district were not aware of the rules, leading to the confusion. After much persuasion, the Mahouts relented and prepared for their duties.

Due to the delay, Arjuna, the Nishane elephant, only joined the march after several other groups had already started moving. Notably, he was not brought close to the dais to perform the customary trunk salute to the dignitaries, as is the customary practice.

The disagreement between the Police and Mahouts also affected the tying of the Ambari on Abhimanyu. The 750-kg Golden Howdah was hastily mounted on him with the assistance of a crane and fastened securely, a process that typically takes over an hour but was completed in just 45 minutes.

As a result, the Ambari was not tied properly, and it tilted to Abhimanyu’s left side several times. Recognising the imbalance, Abhimanyu skilfully balanced the Golden Howdah on his back and attentively followed the commands of his Mahout Vasantha. Known for his leadership capabilities, Abhimanyu managed to self-adjust the tilting Ambari, moving gracefully.