Khandre Urges Grand Dasara Farewell for Elephant Abhimanyu
In a letter to Ramalinga Reddy, Khandre said Abhimanyu, who has carried the 750-kg Golden Howdah six times, enjoys a huge fan following across Karnataka
Bidar: Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B. Khandre has urged Forest Minister R. Ramalinga Reddy to allow 60-year-old Captain Abhimanyu to participate in this year’s Dasara Jamboo Savari and give the veteran elephant a grand farewell.
In a letter to Ramalinga Reddy, Khandre said Abhimanyu, who has carried the 750-kg Golden Howdah six times, enjoys a huge fan following across Karnataka.
Abhimanyu has been one of the prominent elephants in the Dasara procession, carrying the Golden Howdah bearing the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari. Khandre said that instead of suddenly dropping him from the festivities, Abhimanyu could be included as the Nishane elephant and given a respectful and royal farewell.
The Vijayadashami Jamboo Savari is the main attraction of the world-famous Mysuru Dasara, and people have developed a strong emotional bond with the elephants that participate in the festivities, particularly those that carry the Golden Howdah, he said.
“The decision to exclude Captain Abhimanyu from this year’s Dasara has come as a shock to lakhs of his admirers,” Khandre said in his letter.
“Abhimanyu, from the Mathigodu elephant camp in Nagarahole, has participated in more than 300 elephant capture operations and over 80 tiger capture operations. He has also carried the Golden Howdah six times and earned a special place in the hearts of people across the state,” he added.
Khandre, who had served as Forest Minister in the Siddaramaiah cabinet, cited the examples of Arjuna and Balarama, saying Arjuna, captured during the Kakanakote Khedda operation in 1968, participated in the Jamboo Savari 22 times and carried the Golden Howdah on eight occasions. Arjuna was allowed to participate in Dasara even after turning 60. Balarama, too, continued to participate in the festivities at an advanced age.
Khandre requested that Abhimanyu also be accorded the same honour and allowed to participate in the Jamboo Savari before being given a dignified farewell.
