Mysuru Dasara: 60-year-old Arjuna to be replaced by Abhimanyu

Lead elephant and carrier of the Golden Howdah, Arjuna will be replaced by 54-year-old Abhimanyu in this year’s Mysuru Dasara. Abhimanyu will carry the 750-kg Golden Howdah in Mysuru Dasara procession this year.

Mysuru: Mysuru Dasara is famous across the world and people from across the globe throng the heritage city during this 10-day long festival.

While the Dasara festival is popular for the distinct events that take place the entire month, there are a special set of fans who wait for the last day of the festival just to have a glimpse of the gorgeous  elephants.

Arjuna is one of the most popular elephants, however we have some bad news for his fans.

Arjuna, who has been the lead elephant and the carrier of the Golden Howdah at the Mysuru Dasara from 2012 will be replaced by Abhimanyu, who is currently the strongest elephant in Mattigodu elephant camp.

Arjuna had tuned 60 which is why 54-year-old Abhimanyu will take up the vital role this year.

The report was confirmed by Assistant Conservator of Forests, Mysuru, Alexander, who oversees the Dasara elephants.

While Abhimanyu will carry the 750-kg Golden Howdah in Mysuru Dasara procession this year, Vikram, Harsha, Vijaya, Cauvery, and Gopi from the Dubare elephant camp in Kushalnagar are selected to accompany Abhimanyu in the procession.

Abhimanyu is the second elephant from the Mattigodu camp to carry the golden Howdah. Previously, Balarama from the same camp carried the howdah for several years in the past.

Reportedly, Arjuna became the leading contender after being ahead of Balarama in the rehearsals of carrying the howdah, for almost five kilometres between Mysuru Palace and Bannimantap, by 45 minutes.