Mysuru Dasara preparations: Weight-training activities under way for elephant Abhimanyu

Preparations for the Mysuru Dasara and the Vijayadashami procession gathered pace with the Forest Department authorities formally subjecting elephant Abhimanyu to weight training activities on Wednesday.

The exercise marks the beginning of the conditioning regimen ahead of the ‘Jamboo Savari’ for Abhimanyu, who is vested with the responsibility of carrying the 750 kg golden howdah with the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari on the day of the procession slated to be held on October 2.

Deputy Conservator of Forests Prabhu Gowda oversaw the drill during which a weight pf 500 kg, including 300 kg of sandbag, was hoisted and strapped to the back of Abhimanyu, who walked along the procession route with 13 other elephants.

In the days ahead, a couple of other male elephants will also undergo weight training to ensure that they remain prepared as standbys in case of exigencies. The female elephants and some of the male ones who are not seasoned enough, will not undergo the weight-training drill.

The objective of the drill is to get the elephants used to such weights, which will gradually be increased over the new few days to match the actual weight of nearly 1,000 kg, including the weight of the mahout and other contraptions, to be carried on the day of the procession.

Before the drill commenced, a special puja was performed for Abhimanyu as he entered the second phase of the training programme.

In the run up to the festival, Abhimanyu and a few other male elephants will carry a wooden replica of the howdah during the exercise regimen. This allows the elephants to get accustomed to the distribution of weight, while the mahout learns to ensure that the howdah remains balanced while the jumbos are walking.

The first batch of nine elephants, which came to the palace precincts on August 4, have been walking daily along the procession route and getting familiar with the din and noise of the city. The second batch of five elephants joined them during the last week of August, and since then, all the 14 elephants are taking part in the drill.

Veterinary experts are monitoring their health, and the elephants are being given a special diet to ensure they remain fit for Dasara duty on the day of the procession.