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Howdah elephant Abhimanyu begins practice of carrying sandbags; puja performed to cannons

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Mysuru: Dasara elephants led by howdah carrier Abhimanyu on Monday began with the practice of carrying sandbags.

Sandbags being mounted on Dasara elephant Abhimanyu

The elephants will be carrying sandbags weighing about 200 kg in turns as a prelude to Jamboo Savari on October 15 at Palace premises.

The practice of carrying sandbags began with Gaja Puja at Kodi Bhairaveshwara Swamy Temple on Palace premises.

Sandbags mounted on elephant Abhimanyu

For the second consecutive year, Abhimanyu will carry 750 kg Golden Howdah on the D-day. For nearly 25 days, the jumbos will practice with gradual increase in weight of sandbags for about 400 kg and wooden howdah totalling 750 kg.

DCF V Karikalan and Veterinarian Dr Ramesh were present during the puja and forest darter Akram pasha and team along with Abhimanyu’s Mahout Vasanth supervised the process of mounting the sandbags.

Gaja puja was performed to Dasara elephants Abhimanyu, Dhananjaya and Gopalaswamy before the practice of carrying sandbags in Mysuru Palace premises on Monday

Cannon puja was also conducted at Elephant Gate at Ambavilas Palace.

The 1859 model cannons are used to fire 21 rounds during the Vijayadashami procession, as a respect to the Goddess Chamundeshwari carried in the howdah.

City Police Commissioner Dr Chandragupta performed the puja and said “traditionally puja was performed to cannons and the staff will practice for three times along with the elephants to acclimatise them with the deafening sound. As many as 30 staff will take part in cannon practice.”

– Team Mysoorunews

 

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