This time too, Abhimanyu the elephant will carry the Ambari (Golden howdah) in the Dasara Jumbo Savari, and the Gajapayana will be formally launched from Veeranahosalli near Hunsur on August 4, said Forest Minister Ishwar Khandre.
Releasing the list of 9 elephants out of the total 14 participating in the 2025 Dasara Mahotsav at Vikas Soudha today, he said that Abhimanyu, who has been carrying the Golden Ambari with the idol of Nadadevi Chamundeshwari in the Jumbo Savari since 2020, will continue to lead as the captain.
Abhimanyu, 59, based at the Mattigodu camp in Nagarhole, is known as a prominent Kumki elephant who has participated in over 300 elephant capture operations and more than 80 tiger capture operations, according to the official.
In this year’s Jumbo Savari, Bhima (25 years old) from Mattigodu camp, Kanjan (24), Dhananjaya (44) and Prashanth (53) from Dubare camp, Mahendra (42) from Balle camp, Ekalavya (40) from Doddaharave camp — all male elephants — and Kaveri (45) from Dubare camp and Lakshmi (53) from Balle will arrive in Mysuru in the first phase.
In the second phase, five more elephants will be brought to Mysuru from the forest. He said that these elephants will be given a ceremonial and traditional farewell at the Gajapayana to be held on August 4.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief of Forest Force Meenakshi Negi, Chief Wildlife Warden P.C. Ray, and senior officers Mahesh Shiroor, Manoj Kumar, Malathi, and Prabhugowda Biradar were present.
Dasara Gajapade – Details of elephants in the first list:
- 59-year-old Abhimanyu of Mattigodu Elephant Camp is 2.672 meters tall, 3.51 meters long, and weighs 4,920 kg. Abhimanyu was captured in the Hebballa forest area of Kodagu district in 1970. He is known for his ability to capture, tame, and treat wild elephants, having successfully handled the capture of 140 to 150 wild elephants and 40 to 50 tigers. He has carried the Golden Ambari for the past five years. Mahout J.S. Vasantha and Kavadi J.K. Raju take care of him.
- Dhananjaya (45) of the Dubare Elephant Camp has participated in the Dasara Mahotsav for the past seven years. He is 2.80 meters tall, 3.84 meters long, and weighs 4,050 kg. This elephant was captured in 2023 in the Yasalur zone of Hassan district and is part of the efforts to capture wild elephants and tigers. Mahout J.C. Bhaskar and Kavadi J.S. Rajanna handle him.
- Kanjan (26) from Dubare Elephant Camp is participating in the Dasara Mahotsav for the third consecutive year. He is 2.80 meters tall and weighs 3,900 kg. He was captured near Yellasur in Hassan district in 2024. Mahout J.D. Vijaya and Kavadi Kiran take care of him.
- Bhima, 25, from Mattigodu Elephant Camp, has been participating in the Dasara Mahotsav annually since 2017 and served as Pattadane and annual in 2022. He is 2.85 meters tall, 3.05 meters long, and weighs 5,300 kg. Mahout Gundu and Kavadi Nanjundaswamy take care of him.
- Ekalavya, 40, from Mattigodu Elephant Camp, is participating in the Dasara Mahotsav for the second time. He is 2.88 meters tall and weighs 5,150 kg. He is looked after by Mahout S. Idayat and Kavadi Srujan. He is unafraid of the sounds of vehicles and firecrackers.
- Prashanth, a 53-year-old from Kapala Elephant Camp, has been part of Dasara for the past 15 years. He was captured in the Karekoppa forest area in 1993. He is 2.61 meters tall, 3.46 meters long, and weighs 4,650 kg. Mahout J. Chinnappa and Kavadi Chandra take care of him.
- Mahendra, 42, from Balle camp, participated in the Dasara Mahotsav for the first time in the 2022–23 season. He carried a wooden bundle in the rural Dasara Mahotsav of Srirangapatna and has participated in various rural Dasaras. He is part of the operations team tasked with capturing wild elephants and tigers. He is 2.75 meters tall, 3.25 meters long, and weighs 4,850 kg. Mahout Rajanna and Kavadi Mallikarjuna look after him.
- 45-year-old Kaveri of Dubare Elephant Camp is 2.50 meters tall, 3.32 meters long, and weighs 3,500 kg. Mahout J.D. Dobi and Kavadi J.A. Sanjan take care of her. She was captured in the Somwarpet Adinadur forest area in February 2009. Having participated in several Dasara Mahotsavs, she has been selected again for this year’s event.
- 54-year-old Lakshmi of Balle Camp is 2.52 meters tall. Mahout Sannappa and Kavadi Manju take care of her. She is a former circus elephant taken into custody by the department in 2015. She is not afraid of the noise of vehicles and firecrackers and is participating in the Dussehra festival for the second time.
