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.