Mysuru: Six star elephants of Dasara – Arjuna, Balarama, Abhimanyu, Vikram, Cauvery and Chaitra – have already arrived in Mysuru and are housed in the Aranya Bhavan campus.
They will have practice to get adjusted to the city environment- They will be carrying sand bags and Arjuna will be carrying a wooden replica of Ambaari in the daily exercise.
The rest – Prashantha, Harsha, Gopalaswamy, Gopi, Durga Parameshwari and Kenchamba – will arrive after Ganesh Chathurthi on September 17 . The Vijayadashami procession will be held on October 22.
Even after there has been a shortage of budget by the district administration, they have insured all the 12 Dasara elephants, mahouts, kavadis and public. The short team insurance policy, offered by the city-based General Insurance Company, will be valid from September 3 to October 30.
While the jumbos have been insured for Rs 35 lakh, their mahouts and kavadis will get an insurance cover of Rs 24 lakh with each mahout and kavadi getting a cover of Rs 1 lakh. The administration has also insured the public for Rs 30 lakh and they will be covered if attacked by Dasara jumbos.
The administration has paid Rs 55,000 for the insurance company as a one-time premium.
Here is the list of Elephants with details:
Arjuna
Male
Age 55
camp base – Balle
Height 2.95
Length 3.75
Weight 5000-5100Kg
Arjuna was caught in the Operation Kedda in Kaakanakote forest limits in 1968. This male elephant has already lead Dasara Procession by carrying Golden Ambaari 4 time till now.
Balarama
Male
Age 57
Camp base Thithimathi
Height 2.7mts
Length 3.70mts
Weight 4850-4950kgs
Balarama is known for its innocence and this was caught in 1978 at Kattepura forest area, Kodagu District. He is taking part in Dasara from past 19 years and has experience of carrying Golden Ambaari for 13 times and he was the successor of Drana.
This elephant is known for its peace minded nature and she is the daughter of Ganga and this is the third time she is taking part in Dasara.
Second Batch
Second batch of elephants are expected to join these elephants in the third week of September.
Kenchambha
Age 21
Camp Base Kaveridhama
Height 2.2mts
Length3.15mts
Weight 2800
This is the first time she is taking part in Dasara and is one amongst 22 elephants which was caught in Alur ,Hassan District .
Gopalaswamy
Male
Age 33
Camp base Thithimathi
Height 2.62mts
Length 2.42mts
Weight 2200-2300kg
He is a silent and strong elephant in the group and was caught near Hetturu Sakleshpura Taluk Hassan District in 2009.
Durgaparameshwari
Female
Age 48
Camp Base K Gudi
Height 2.40mts
Length 2.20mts
Weight 3500-3600kgs
He was caught near Dubaare Forest area Madikere in 1972 and this is the third time he is taking part in Dasara.
Harsha
Male
Age 48
Camp Base Dubaare
Height 2.55mts
Length 2.40mts
Weight 3300-3400kgs
He was caught near Doddbetta Forest area and he is known for his strength and he is taking part in Dasara for 13th time.
Gopi
Male
Age 33
Camp Base Dubaare
Height 2.92mts
Length 3.42mts
Weight 3700-3800kgs
He was caught near Karyakoppa forest area in 1993 and he is serving in Dubaare forest for Safari. This is the fifth time he is taking part in Dasara.
Prashanth
Male
Age 59
Camp Base Dubaare
Height 2.61mts
Length 3.46mts
Weight 4300-4400kgs
He was also caught near Karyakoppa forest area in 1993 and for the 9th time is in the Dasara celebrations.
