No Time Pressure On Dasara Elephants This Year, Focus On Slow And Steady March
Jumbo savari is a major crowd puller right from the era of Maharajas of Mysore: Reports
BENGALURU: In previous years, forest officials used to note down the timings of tamed elephants rehearsing for jumbo savari (elephant march on roads of Mysuru city from Mysore Palace premises to Bannimantap), to monitor the stamina in the elephants but this year, attention has been shifted to slow and steady march in the procession on Vijayadashami day falling on October 21 this year.
Rehearsal of jumbo savari has been conducted twice a day once in the morning hours and again in evening to acclimatise the elephants to march under lights. The march begins from Mysore Palace premises via K.R. Circle, Sayyaji Rao Road to reach Bannimantapa covering a distance of about 4.5 kms.
Jumbo savari is a major crowd puller right from the era of Maharajas of Mysore and this year the procession falls on October 21 this year on Vijayadashami day.
Visitors from far and wide reach Mysuru city to catch elephants' march on Mysuru city road with a designated elephant carrying a 750-golden howdah.
Over the shift to slow and steady procession/march, Deputy Conservator of Forests Prabhugouda Patil told Deccan Chronicle on Wednesday “We want elephants’ march slowly and steadily on the designated route. The elephants should feel relaxed.”
Earlier, he said, “We used to note down the timings of the march but we have given it a go this time. The timings were noted down previously to monitor stamina in the elephants. But this year, we aim at performance so as not to strain the elephants.”
Continuing, the DCF said “The golden howdah carrying elephants in particular should not be burdened along the procession route. The elephants should cruise through the procession route with ease.”
Currently, elephants participating in Mysore Dasara festivities are on a special diet with regular foot and head massage to keep them fit for the Vijayadashami day.
DCF Prabhugouda Patil was happy over the health condition of the elephants and stated “They are in good health and these elephants have shown no signs of fatigue or exhaustion during the rehearsal.”
