After putting up an impeccable performance and shoring up the Jamboo Savari, it was a “day off” for the 15 elephants that participated in the Dasara on Sunday.
Having gone through the grind in the rehearsals and acclimatisation exercise that lasted almost 45 days, the gentle giants from the jungle camps, led by howdah elephant Arjuna, relaxed and savoured the attention being showered on them by mahouts and kavadis.
Veterinarian Nagaraj pointed out that the elephants received a bath to soothe their muscles and skin and were fed a dietary supplement that is tapered off over a period two days after which they resume their normal intake of fodder on returning to their respective jungle camps.
While Arjuna and company relaxed, the former’s mahout Vinu was hogging all the limelight for once as it was his debut for the howdah elephant during the Vijayadashami procession. He was appointed as mahout in August last year but was bypassed for a more experienced Sanappa. “Over the last one year, I have been with Arjuna and know his temperament well and we have bonded well. So I was confident of controlling Arjuna— who is occasionally given to throw tantrums,” said Mr. Vinu, who took a swipe at those critical of his capacity to manage Arjuna earlier in the month.
Meanwhile, the elephants are expected to head back to their respective jungle camps on October 3.
