Mysore/Mysuru: This Dasara, only nine elephants participated in Jumboo Savari, the concluding spectacle held yesterday evening. Although a total of 14 elephants were brought to Mysuru from various elephant camps in Mysuru and Kodagu districts, only nine experienced elephants were chosen to be part of the procession, while the Forest Department decided not to include certain newcomers.

The elephants that had the honour of being in the procession included Abhimanyu, the Golden Howdah carrier, flanked by the Kumki elephants Varalakshmi and Vijaya. Bheema and Gopi performed the role of ‘Nauphat’ elephants, while Mahendra, Dhananjaya, and Prashantha played the role of ‘Saalaanes’.

The 65-year-old veteran, Arjuna, who has participated in Dasara for 22 years and carried the Golden Howdah from 2012 to 2019, led the procession as the ‘Nishaane’ Elephant. The Forest Department officials decided to exclude Sugreeva and the new elephants Kanjan, Rohith, Hiranya and Lakshmi from the procession.

Typically, 10 to 12 elephants take part in Jumboo Savari, but this year, the Department made a deliberate decision not to include Sugreeva, Kanjan, Rohith, Hiranya and Lakshmi due to concerns that they might be frightened by the 21-round cannon firing sounds. There were also concerns that the pachyderms might become agitated by the massive crowd and the cheering, leading to potential panic.

Although all 14 elephants participated in the rehearsals, only the experienced elephants were chosen for the Dasara finale, with the others safely housed inside their sheds at the Mysore Palace.