Dasara jumbos bid adieu to City of Palaces

Mysuru: The curtains rolled down on the 405th Dasara festivities on Sunday morning with the pachyderms which were an integral part of the show, bidding adieu to th City of Palaces.

A pall of gloom descended on the palace as the jumbos had their final round of special food which included coconut and jaggery.  The mahouts, kavadis and their family members were taken on trip around Mysuru including Chamundi hills, Srirangapatna and other spots on Saturday.

Dodda Maasthi, the mahout of Arjuna who carried the golden howdah, was honoured with a shawl, Mysore peta and garland. All the mahouts and kavadis were given  an honorarium of Rs 5,000 each. Later, the pachyderms were loaded into a truck and left for their respective camps.

Thanks to the special food given during their stay, Arjuna has gained 500 kg. While Arjuna stood at 5445 kg on his arrival in the city, now at the end of the camp, he weighed 5945 kg.

Balarama who was 4835 kg on his arrival is now 5500 kg. The weight of Abhimanyu had increased from 5220 kg to 5420 kg. The weight of Cauvery increased from 2900 kg to 3270 kg and the weight of Chaithra increased from 2800 kg to 3110 kg.