Mysuru, 6 Oct

The 14 elephants that played a central role in the Mysuru Dasara festivities were given a warm and emotional farewell on Sunday at the Mysuru Palace premises.

The star of the show, Abhimanyu, once again drew loud cheers from the crowd for successfully carrying the golden howdah during the famed Jamboo Savari procession.

The elephants, along with their mahouts, kavadis, and families, departed the city in trucks arranged by the Forest Department, returning to their respective forest camps.

The gentle giants — Abhimanyu, Bheema, Dhananjaya, Prashantha, Srikanta, Sugreeva, Ekalavya, Mahendra, Gopi, Kanjan, Hemavathy, Roopa, Kaveri, and Lakshmi — had spent nearly two months in the city, participating in rehearsals and festivities.

Before their departure, the elephants were offered a traditional puja at the Kodisomeshwara Temple within the palace grounds and treated to coconuts, bananas, and sugarcane.

Crowds gathered outside the palace and along the roads to bid farewell, clicking photos, taking selfies, and shouting, “Come back next year!” as the elephants raised their trunks in response.