MYSURU: Mysuru royal family scion Yaduveer and his son Aadyaveer spent some time with Abhimanyu, one of five Dasara elephants that left Mysuru after successful participation in Dasara, on Wednesday.
The district administration and forest department had organized a simple puja ceremony for the elephants – Abhimanyu, Vikrama, Gopi, Vijaya and Cauvery – on the premises of Mysuru Palace. The priest chanted hymns for their safe return to the jungle.
Yaduveer, who had stayed inside the Palace from past 10-days to perform the traditional rituals Navaratri festivities, drove a car with his son Aadyaveer Narashimaraja Wadiyar seated next to him to the place where elephants are camped.
As the three-year-old Aadyaveer had only watched the elephants from the Palace balcony during the Dasara procession along with royal family members Pramoda Devi Wadiyar and Trishika Kumari, Yaduveer made his son touch and feel the massive animals. Both had a quality time with Abhimanyu by touching its tusks and trunk.
DCF (Wildlife) MG Alexander and elephant handlers explained about the Dasara elephants.
Officials fed the elephants sugarcane, bananas and jaggery to thank the pachyderms. Alexander and wildlife vet DN Nagaraj appreciated the mahouts and kavadis for their support during the Dasara fastivities.
Later, the elephants boarded trucks that ferried them to their respective camps. While Abhimanyu will be shifted to Mathigodu camp, the other four elephants will be taken to Dubare camp in Kodagu.
After participating in the procession which was held inside the Palace premises on October 26, the elephants were given rest on Tuesday before they were shifted back to their respective camps along with their handlers on Wednesday.