Dasara 2023: Here’s a quick take on gentle giants who make Jamboo Savari, magnificent

3 min read

Mysuru: As the official countdown for the Nada habba Dasara began with the initiation of Gajapayana at Veeranahosahalli gate in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve in Hunsur taluk on Friday, all eyes were on the majestic pachyderms that took part in the event. The first batch consisting of nine elephants were led by Abhimanyu. They were all decked up for the occasion and were given a traditional farewell from forest to the City of Palace to take part in the Jamboo Savari. Another batch of five elephants will soon join them.

The curiosity about these gentle giants – who make the Jamboo Savari a magnificent event – never dies down and here’s a quick take on them.

Leading the pack of first batch is 57-year-old Abhimanyu, who belongs to Mathigodu camp. His weight is around 4,700-5,000 kg and he has been participating in Nada Habba Dasara since 2012. Until 2015, he was assigned the role of pulling music band chariot but he was assigned the role to carry the golden howdah, three years ago. He is credited with capturing about 200 rogue elephants and also about 40 tigers that stray into human habitat. “Abhimanyu is the gentle giant but other elephants are terrified of him,” quips its mahout Vasantha JS. Abhimanyu’s cavady Raju KK is also excited to take part in the dasara festivities.

‘Nishane Aane’ Arjuna, who carried the golden howdah from 2012 to 2019 is part of Dasara festivities for the past 22 years. He was captured in a Khedda operation in 1968 at Kakanakote forest area. He is 65-year-old and weighs around 5,800-6,000 kg. Vinu is his mahout and Raju D is his cavady.

‘Noufat Aane’ Dhananjaya is 43-year-old and is participating in Dasara since four years. Captured at Yasaluru range in Hassan district in 2013, he is the go-to elephant in capturing wild elephants and tigers. He weighs around 4,000 to 4,200 kg. J C Bhaskar is its mahout and Rajanna J S is Dhananjaya’s cavady.

Mahendra is 40-year-old and had first carried the Ambari in Srirangapatna Dasara in 2022. He actively takes part in capturing wild elephants and tigers. This is his second-year stint in Dasara. He weighs around 3,800-4,000 kg. While Rajanna is his mahout, Mallikarjun is his cavady.

Captured in Ettur in Sakleshpura, Hassan district in 2009, Bheema is 23-year-old. He has been a part of Dasara since 2012 and known to be participating in capturing wild elephants and tigers. “He is a wonderful student. If you stay with him for two to three days, he will start listening to you,” says proud mahout Gunda. Bheema weighs around 3,800-4,000 kg and Nanjundaswami is his cavady.

Forty-one-year-old Gopi was captured in Doddabetta forest area in Hassan district in 1990. This is his 12th Dasara. He is also the ‘Pattada Aane’ since 2015 and takes part in rituals of the royal family. P B Naveen Kumar is his mahout and Shivu J R is his cavady. Gopi weighs around 3,700-3,800 kg.

Other elephants to take part in Dasara are Vijaya is 63-year-old and weighs around 3,250-3,500 kg. Bhojappa J K is his mahout and Bharat B P is the cavady; Varalakshmi is 67-year-old and weighs around 3300-3500 kg. J K Ravi is Varalakshmi’s mahout and Lava K S is the cavady; Sugreeva is 41-year-old and weighs around 4,000-4100 kg. Shankar J G is his mahout and Harish J G is his cavady; Prashanth is 50-year-old and weighs around 4000 to 4,200 kg. Chinnappa is his mahout and Chandra, the Cavady; Kanjan is 24-year-old and weighs around 3,700-3,900 kg. J B Vijaya is his mahout and Manikantha, his cavady; Lakshmi is 52-ear-old and weighs around 3,000 to 3,200 kg. Ravi is Lakshmi’s mahout and Manju, cavady; 21-year-old Rohit weighs around 2900-3000 kg. He is looked after by his mahout Mahadeva and cavady Mani; Hiranya is 46-year-old and weighs around 3,000-3,200 kg. He is looked after by mahout Chandrashekhar and cavady Mansoor.