Mysuru: The first wooden howdah rehearsal was interrupted as a result of sudden heavy rains in city.

The Forest Department, as part of the preparations to this year’s Jumboo Savari, mounted the wooden howdah on one of the Dasara jumbos, Mahendra.

While the elephants were heading towards the Palace North Gates, the sudden cloudburst disrupted the proceedings as Mahendra refused to move further. Though, its Mahout and Kavadi tried their best, the elephant did not move any further.

The 42-year-old Mahendra from Balle Elephant Camp in Nagarahole, had previously carried the wooden howdah with ease in the previous years. Mahendra has also the experience of carrying the wooden howdah during Srirangapatna Dasara.  

Speaking to Star of Mysore, DCF (Wildlife) I.B. Prabhugowda said, “The weight of the Gaadi-Namda mounted on Mahendra and ropes tied around it, increased in the rains as a result of which the elephant felt uncomfortable. Following which the wooden howdah rehearsal was dropped.”

Earlier, rehearsal began with the mounting of Gaadi-Namda on Mahendra near the Kodi Someshwara Temple at Palace premises.

Later, the traditional puja were performed at around 2.30 pm, with Lakshmi and Chaitra elephants standing on right and left sides of Mahendra respectively. Following this, Mahendra and the two female elephants were brought near the residence of Mysore Royal Family where the wooden howdah was mounted on Mahendra using the crane.