Prashantha from Dubare elephant camp
Prashantha, 54, a seasoned participant for over 18 years, is among the frontrunners. Captured in the Karekoppa forest area in 1993, he weighs 5,100kg. Abhimanyu, who carried the golden howdah six times, has been rested after turning 60, following a Karnataka high court order barring elephants aged 60 and above from physically demanding tasks. The golden howdah, cushion, decorative clothes and other items weigh around 1,000kg. The 5km route from Mysuru Palace to Banni Mantap Parade Grounds takes 70-80 minutes to cover.
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The remaining four performed well in cannon-fire tests, wooden-howdah rehearsals and regular exercises, besides gaining weight — a key selection criterion, a senior govt official said. DN Nagaraj, a former veterinarian who led Arjuna, Balarama and Abhimanyu as lead elephants in the Dasara procession for nearly two decades, said selection involves assessing physical build, gait, emotional steadiness, endurance, obedience and temperament. Mysuru: With Mahendra failing the endurance test, Karnataka forest officials must now choose the Mysuru Dasara golden howdah elephant from the remaining contenders. A tusker at Dubare elephant camp, Prashantha is handled by mahouts JA Chinnappa and Kavadi Chandru. Five elephants were initially shortlisted, but Mahendra was ruled out after failing during rehearsals. The final decision will be taken by authorities in Bengaluru. With Dhananjaya assigned to carry the golden howdah at Srirangapatna Dasara, established practice rules him out of the Mysuru event. The final contenders are now Prashantha, Ekalavya and Gopi. The elephant must remain composed amid crowds and noise and during long hours on the road. The lead elephant must carry this load for over two hours during the procession. Download the TOI App.