Mysuru: With an aim to select Ambari elephant, training to carry weight on the Jumboo Savari route began with Dasara jumbo Mahendra carrying 600-kg sand bags on the first day last evening.
The nine Dasara jumbos, which arrived in the first batch, were led near Kodi Someshwara Temple in the Palace premises where Priest S.V. Pralhad Rao performed puja to Gaadhi, Namdha and the elephants.
Soon after, Mahendra, who has been brought from Balle Elephant Camp was led near the Palace, where Gaadhi Namdha was placed on his back and secured with ropes. A cradle-like metal structure was placed on top of Gaadhi Namdha, tied it securely and sand bags, all weighing about 600 kgs, were placed inside it.
With kumki elephants Lakshmi and Cauvery on his either side, Mahendra was then led to the spot, where the Golden Howdah would be placed on the howdah elephant on Jumboo Savari day, to familiarise the elephant about the place.
Later, Mahendra along with kumki elephants were led on the route in front of Trineshwaraswamy Temple and were brought near Varahaswamy Temple where flower petals would be showered on them on the grand finale. At about 5.15 pm, Mahendra was led out of Balarama Gate followed by other elephants.
As it was a Sunday, a large crowd including tourists had gathered near Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple to watch the Dasara elephants. It resembled a mini Jumboo Savari. Hundreds of people, holding their mobile phones, stood all along the Jumboo Savari route till Torchlight Parade Grounds in Bannimantap.
With Mahendra in the lead, the Dasara jumbos passed via K.R. Circle, Sayyaji Rao Road, Government Ayurveda Hospital Circle, New Sayyaji Rao Road, Old RMC Circle, Bamboo Bazar Road, Highway Circle, Nelson Mandela Road and entered the Torchlight Parade Grounds in Bannimantap. On reaching the grounds, the sand bags on Mahendra’s back were removed and the jumbos were given rest. Later, the jumbos were taken back to the Palace on the same route.
Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Dr. I.B. Prabhu Gowda, Range Forest Officer (RFO) Yashma Machamma, Veterinarian Dr. Adarsh, elephant caretakers Rangaraju, Akram and others accompanied the Dasara jumbos.
Mahendra carries 600-kg weight for 5 kms in 2 hours
Mahendra, carrying about 600-kg weight on his back, left Mysore Palace through Balarama Gate at about 5.15 pm. He stopped at five places for a minute and two and continued his walk towards the Torchlight Parade Grounds in Bannimantap. He reached the grounds at 7.15 pm, covering the distance of 5 kms in two hours with ease.
Additional security needed for crowd management
Though limited Forest and Police personnel were deployed during weight training exercise yesterday, it was very difficult for them to control the crowd all along the Jumboo Savari route. Apart from standing on the roads and roadsides, many had climbed buildings and vehicles to watch the jumbos march majestically and click photos.
At K.R. Circle, public entered inside the Statue Circle to click photos. The Police Officers, who did not take this into account, were only seen standing guard on the elephants’ side. If at all the elephants panic on seeing such a large crowd close to them, they could panic and run berserk causing a panic situation. But the elephants walked calmly much to the appreciation of all.
Traffic jam: As hundreds of people had assembled on the route, many vehicles were parked on the road creating traffic jams at K.R. Circle, Sayyaji Rao Road and Bannimantap Main Road.
Trishikha, Aadyaveer Wadiyar feed jumbos
Trishikha Kumari Wadiyar, wife of Titular Head of the erstwhile Mysore Royal Family Yaduveer Wadiyar and her son Aadyaveer Narasimharaja Wadiyar, fed Mahendra and Palace elephants Preethi and Chanchala with banana and sugarcane stalks before weight training commenced.
This post was published on September 7, 2026 7:30 pm