Mysore, Oct. 20 (KK&JP)-A fond farewell was accorded to the 12 Dasara elephants that had patiently and with a great deal of forbearance, participated in the Dasara Jumboo Savari.

The farewell was accorded by District-in-Charge Minister S.A. Ramdas, who performed puja to the elephants.

The farewell function was attended by DC Harsha Gupta, Conservator of Forests Ravi, DCF Yatish Kumar and others.

Speaking on the occasion, Ramdas said adequate money would be earmarked and wisely spent on the festivities. A permanent Dasara Committee would be constituted within 6 months with budgetary allocation.

Meanwhile, the placid pachyderms, unmindful of the emotion-laden atmosphere, were quietly bonding with each other. They had all come from different camps and would be going back to life in the camps and grazing in the verdant jungles at night.

The District Administration, along with the Forest Department, had arranged 12 lorries to transport the elephants.

Balarama would be going back to Thithimathi while Arjuna would be going to Baale (Hunsur Sub Division). Abhi-manyu to Moorkal, Gajendra to K.Gudi, Sarala, Varalakshmi and Mary to Sunkadakatte, Gajendra, Srirama, Kavitha and Kanthi K. Gudi, Harsha and Vikrama to Dubare. It was also a parting from elephants for two of the long serving mahouts, Sannappa and Sannaiah, who would be retiring.

He also said that the next Ambari elephant would have to be groomed for next year’s Dasara. He said that while the choice would be between Abhimanyu and Arjuna, the Forest Department would also be looking at elephant herds to see if one more elephant could be trapped and trained to be the next Ambari elephant.

District Admn. 'thanks' mahouts

Mysore, Oct. 20 (BRS&KK)- "Thank you all," said the District Administration to Mahouts of Dasara jumbos for having contributed their mite for the successful conduct of this year’s Dasara festival.

The Mahouts and Kavadis were treated to a sumptuous dinner on Tuesday in the company of DC Harsha Gupta, Mayor Sandesh Swamy and Additional DC Dr. C.G. Betsurmath. The top officials themselves served the dishes to the Mahouts, Kavadis and their family members, comprising nearly 400 guests from 42 families.

The Deputy Commissioner also presented a cheque for Rs. 5,000 to each family, as special largesse. The mahouts, delighted by the lavish hospitality from the District Administration, said: "Dasara of this year has concluded. We are returning to our respective elephant camps."

Project Elephant CCF Ajay Mishra, CF B.P. Ravi, DCFs Yatish Kumar and Vijay Ranjan Singh were present.

Later, the Mahouts and Kavadis posed for a photo session with the jumbos.

Courtesy : Star Of Mysore