Arjuna, pride of Mysuru Dasara bid a tearful adieu
2 min read
Hassan: The last rites of former Golden Howdah carrier of Mysuru Dasara, elephant Arjuna was performed with state honours at Dabballikatte forest area in Yesaluru, Sakleshpur taluk in the district on Tuesday.
Arjuna, the 64 year old Tusker of Balle elephant camp in Kakanakote, Nagarahole forest was bid a tearful adieu by his mahout Vinu who was full of tears and his Kavadi, along with mahouts and kavadis of other elephants, forest personnel and wildlife activists, who had gathered in large numbers.
Arjuna was killed in a fight with 32-year-old wild tusker, on Monday, when the plans of Forest Department to capture rogue elephants went awry.
An earth excavating machine summoned by Forest department dug a pit, the surface of which was covered with salt and lime stone and bleaching powder.
Prahlad Rao who regularly conducts puja to Dasara elephants, supervised the rituals related to the last rites of Arjuna.
Mahout Vinu who was inconsolable performed puja to the carcass of Arjuna that was decorated with flowers. The carcass was later lifted with a belt strapped to its abdomen and placed inside the pit before burying the elephant, that was the pride of Mysuru Dasara for several years.
Prior to last rites, Arjuna’s mahout Vinu and other mahouts including the villagers demanded to shift Arjuna’s carcass to Balle camp, as he deserves to be buried at his abode, for being a howdah elephant.
Vinu also listed the names of former howdah carrier elephants like Rajendra and Drona which were also laid to rest at Balle elephant camp in Nagarahole forest area.
As the villagers went berserk, demanding not to conduct the last rites of Arjuna here, Police had to use mild force to disperse the crowd and brought the situation under control.
Meanwhile Forest officials succeeded in convincing Vinu to conduct the last rites of Arjuna at Dabballikatte.
– Team Mysoorunews
Mysooru News
