News Karnataka
Monday, February 10 2025
Mysuru

Balarama to retire from the Dasara processions

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Newskarnataka-Mysore

Mysore:Elephant Balarama, who  carried the golden howdah for 13 years is not only being replaced by Arjuna, but could be missing altogether  from this year’s grand Vijayadashami procession that brings the Dasara celebrations to an end.

While four elephants Arjuna, Balarama, Abhimanyu and Gajendra were given howdah training this year, 55 -year- old Balarama seems to be waning in strength as he did not perform as well as last year and has been exhibiting deviant behavior, according to DCF Devraj, who is in charge of the Dasara elephants.

“If he shows the same behaviour during the procession, he cannot be brought back midway, so we have decided not only to replace  him with Arjuna as howdah elephant but also not to use him as nishaane elephant which will carry the royal insignia behind the parade commander,” said Devaraj.

As Balarama cannot be given the “saalaane” role  either  after being  howdah elephant for so many years, he could be missing entirely from the procession this year and retired from the Dasara processions in future, according to sources.

Meanwhile, Arjuna, who carried the golden howdah weighing 750 kgs during the Dasara Jumbo Savari last year, and has been a part of the Dasara celebrations for the past eight years, is all set to occupy centre stage in the procession this year too.

Although he went into a state of  masth  six months ago, he has not misbehaved  during his 45 day stay in Mysore, which eminently qualifies  him for the role. Elephant Gajendra  could be used as nishaane elephant in the absence of Balarama, say sources.

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