Mysuru: Behind every successful Dasara event, there is an important role by the Mahouts and Kavadis who handle the elephants. During their stay in palace for Dasara duty, they hardly sleep even for three hours a day. As the job involves a lot of risk for most of the Mahouts and Kavadis everyday is a rebirth for them.
Almost all Mahouts and Kavadis who are in Mysuru palace to take care of their respective Dasara elephants have continued the profession from where there fathers and grandfathers left. Almost all Mahouts and Kavadis working now belong to the third generation and they have taken up the profession because they are well versed in it and involved in the same from their childhood days.
J R Chinnappa, Mahout of 61-year-old elephant Prashantha, who is one of the senior-most mahout in service said, “Looking after an elephant is not an easy job. One can’t predict the mood of any animal including that of elephant. Everyday before starting our work, we pray to Lord Ganesha. The day starts at 3 AM by cleaning the premise of elephants and later taking them for bath, giving them food, taking them for 5 km rehearsal from palace to Bannimantap and again provide them food. We have our breakfast later at 11 AM or 11.30 AM. After few minutes of relaxation, again the work starts and only after providing them special food in the night, we have dinner and after 12 midnight we go to sleep. After getting up in the morning, straightaway we can’t go and touch the elephant. We should see his or her mood like if their mood is not good, there are some signs including aggressive look or moving here and there restlessly. When their mood is not good we should calm them down by providing jaggery and other delicacies. There is a lot of risk involved while taking care of gigantic elephants. Everyday is rebirth for us. When compared to few decades ago, now the government is providing us better facilities. The only request to the government is to enhance our salary in the coming years.”
“My grandfather and father were also looking after the elephants, I used to go with them and gradually I too got inclined towards these majestic animals. I have three children, two daughters and a son who is also looking after the elephants. My son is having two children. I don’t want my grandchildren to continue this profession. I want them to get educated and take up better government jobs. My grandchildren are studying in PU and I want them to study further and get a good government job.”
It’s the same case with 62-year-old another senior-most mahout J K Sikha, who takes care of 50-year-old Dasara elephant Harsha. Shikha who is accompanying Harsha as mahout for the past 18 years said, “When compared to few decades ago, we are being looked after well. But still the government can enhance our salary as the work involves a lot of risk. During our career, especially when we are in forest for various other works including taming of wild elephants, we have faced a lot of challenges including from the clutches of tiger, leopard, bear and other wild animals. I have seven grand children and I don’t want them to take up this profession. Instead, I want them to study atleast tenth standard and take up better government jobs.”
Dasara elephants–15
Mahouts–15
Kavadis–15
Assistants–20
Mahouts and Kavadis–Sleep for just 3 hours
Routine-Starts at 3 am and goes on till 12 midnight.
