Elephant Balarama
Encyclopedia
Balarama is the lead elephant
of the world famous Mysore Dasara
procession and carries the statue of goddess Chamundeshwari on the fabled Golden Howdah
. Balarama is a bull born cand is accompanied in the procession by other Dasara Elephants
. Of the many(about 16) elephants participating, Balarama is the star attraction as he carries on his back the sacred idol of goddess Chamundeshwari in the 800 kilograms (1,763.7 lb) golden howdah on the auspicious 10th day of Dasara celebrations.
for a record thirteen times.A very silent Bull(as against the normal Elephants).He is said to be an introvert, and has to have special training so he can withstand the firing of canons that occurs during the festival.
He succeeded Elephant Drona
as the carrier of the Golden Howdah.
He was not the first choice to carry the Howdah after Drona, Elephant Arjuna who was supposed to be the lead Elephant was sidelined for accidentally killing his Mahout. One day Arjuna went to bathe in a river with his buddy Elephant Bahadur and Bahadur's trainer Annayya. While crossing a road, the elephants were startled by a vehicle and in the chaos that ensued, the rider Annayya fell down to the ground, only to be stamped on the his head by Arjuna. He was crushed to death. People opined that an elephant that had killed a man was unfit to carry the religious duties of Dasara. So Arjuna, while being as capable as Drona
, never got to be the bearer of the prestige.He was first used at the Bandipur National park for capturing Poachers,but nowadays he is used as the carrier of the golden carriage at the Dussehera Festivities. Arjuna had the honour of carrying the Chinnada Ambari only once before being replaced by Elephant Balarama.Rumours are that Elephant Balarama will retire in the near future and he will be succeeded 'Ironically' by Elephant Arjuna(a 44 year old Massive Bull weighing 5600kgs).
Balarama's Mahout Sannappa once refused to mount Balarama after his family were stopped by the police from watching him ride during Dasara
.
Balarama refuses food given to him by anybody other than his Mahout
.Balarama weighs about 4950 Kilograms and he conquers the hearts of human beings by his majestic looks and the silence that he possess.He is looked after at the Morkal Elephant camp at Nagarahole national park and his previous mahout Sannappa has retired and his new master Thimma has taken over.At 53 years he still looks strong tough his weight has reduced over the years.A royal elephant he is indeed.
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
of the world famous Mysore Dasara
Mysore Dasara
Mysore Dasara is the Nadahabba of the state of Karnataka. It is also called Navaratri and is a 10-day festival with the last day being Vijayadashami, the most auspicious day of Dasara. Dasara usually falls in the month of September or October...
procession and carries the statue of goddess Chamundeshwari on the fabled Golden Howdah
Golden Howdah
The Golden Howdah is a howdah, the carrier mounted on the lead elephant during the Jamboo Savari of the famous Mysore Dasara. It is the cynosure of all eyes during the famous Dasara festivities.- The Howdah :The exact date of its making is not known...
. Balarama is a bull born cand is accompanied in the procession by other Dasara Elephants
Dasara Elephants
Elephants are an integral part of the Mysore Dasara Festival. The elephants form the core of the Mysore Dasara procession on the Vijayadashami day. The lead elephant carries the Golden Howdah with the Goddess Chamundeshwari in it....
. Of the many(about 16) elephants participating, Balarama is the star attraction as he carries on his back the sacred idol of goddess Chamundeshwari in the 800 kilograms (1,763.7 lb) golden howdah on the auspicious 10th day of Dasara celebrations.
History
Balarama was caught in 1987 in the Kattepura forest near Somavarpet, Balarama has taken part in the Dasara procession since 1994, carrying the golden howdahGolden Howdah
The Golden Howdah is a howdah, the carrier mounted on the lead elephant during the Jamboo Savari of the famous Mysore Dasara. It is the cynosure of all eyes during the famous Dasara festivities.- The Howdah :The exact date of its making is not known...
for a record thirteen times.A very silent Bull(as against the normal Elephants).He is said to be an introvert, and has to have special training so he can withstand the firing of canons that occurs during the festival.
He succeeded Elephant Drona
Elephant Drona
Elephant Drona was one the Lead Dasara Elephants of the Famous Jamboo Savari of Mysore Dasara. It preceded Elephant Balarama in carrying the Golden Howdah.-The name:...
as the carrier of the Golden Howdah.
He was not the first choice to carry the Howdah after Drona, Elephant Arjuna who was supposed to be the lead Elephant was sidelined for accidentally killing his Mahout. One day Arjuna went to bathe in a river with his buddy Elephant Bahadur and Bahadur's trainer Annayya. While crossing a road, the elephants were startled by a vehicle and in the chaos that ensued, the rider Annayya fell down to the ground, only to be stamped on the his head by Arjuna. He was crushed to death. People opined that an elephant that had killed a man was unfit to carry the religious duties of Dasara. So Arjuna, while being as capable as Drona
Drona
In the epic Mahābhārata, Drona or Dronacharya was the royal guru to Kauravas and Pandavas. He was a master of advanced military arts, including the Devastras. Arjuna was his favorite student. Dronas love for Arjuna was second only to his love for his son Ashwatthama...
, never got to be the bearer of the prestige.He was first used at the Bandipur National park for capturing Poachers,but nowadays he is used as the carrier of the golden carriage at the Dussehera Festivities. Arjuna had the honour of carrying the Chinnada Ambari only once before being replaced by Elephant Balarama.Rumours are that Elephant Balarama will retire in the near future and he will be succeeded 'Ironically' by Elephant Arjuna(a 44 year old Massive Bull weighing 5600kgs).
Balarama's Mahout Sannappa once refused to mount Balarama after his family were stopped by the police from watching him ride during Dasara
Mysore Dasara
Mysore Dasara is the Nadahabba of the state of Karnataka. It is also called Navaratri and is a 10-day festival with the last day being Vijayadashami, the most auspicious day of Dasara. Dasara usually falls in the month of September or October...
.
Balarama refuses food given to him by anybody other than his Mahout
Mahout
A mahout is a person who drives an elephant. The word mahout comes from the Hindi words mahaut and mahavat. Usually, a mahout starts as a boy in the 'family business' when he is assigned an elephant early in its life and they would be attached to each other throughout the elephant's life.The most...
.Balarama weighs about 4950 Kilograms and he conquers the hearts of human beings by his majestic looks and the silence that he possess.He is looked after at the Morkal Elephant camp at Nagarahole national park and his previous mahout Sannappa has retired and his new master Thimma has taken over.At 53 years he still looks strong tough his weight has reduced over the years.A royal elephant he is indeed.