Mysuru
After training with senior elephants for one-and-a-half months in a row, mahouts and kavadigars have expressed their displeasure over the dropping of new elephants in the Jumboo Savari procession. The Mahouts and Kavadigars of the new elephants, who thought they would go in the procession, expressed disappointment over the decision taken by the forest officials.
Rohit, Kanjan, Sugriva, Hiranya and Lakshmi, who have come with the elephants, participated for the first time and walked seriously with the senior elephants in the workout. In the one-and-a-half-month-long exercise, the new elephants, however, did not warm up to the crowd. The new elephants were a little warmer in the Kushalathopu workout.
After rehearsing continuously for so many days, I was confident that we too would go with the elephants in the Jumboo Savari. But the forest department officials have given up. The mahouts and kavadis, who did not wish to be named, say they are sad on the one hand and happy on the other.
Our elephants had gone in a procession, it was a pleasure to go among millions of people. If we had heard the cries of the people and created a ruckus, we would have got a bad name. Some mahouts and kavadis say that if we come for Dasara next year, we will go.
Hailing from Bandipur Rampur camp, Rohit’s elephant was brought up under the patronage of the royal family for 10 years and was loved by the royal family. Shrutikirti Devi, daughter of Vishalakshi Devi, has been visiting Rohit’s palace every day to enquire about his well-being and give him his favourite snack. They are taking special care of the elephants till they go back to the from the palace.
