Balarama, Vijaya, Arjuna, Gajendra, Sarala and Abhimanyu arrive at Veeranahosahalli near Hunsur on Monday, as they begin their long trudge by foot (and on wheels) to take part in the Dasara festivities in Mysore.
Photograph: Karnataka Photo News
Also read: A people’s festival? Or a festival of gods and kings?
Didn’t they try bringing the elephants on lorries for some time? The ex-pattadaane Arjuna (which was sadly electrocuted a few years later) apparently hit a tree branch on one such trip and it would never get on a lorry again!
Do the elephants get TA/DA for their duties? Are they deemed as government servants? Do we appreciate enough the fact that their contribution to the festivities is irreplaceable?