The first dose of nine elephants of the rehearsals for the famous Mysur Dasar celebrations passes through their annual regime of strict training and carefully planned diet, which would be suitable for the Vijayadashami procession, which was scheduled for October 2, 2025.
Nine elephants, led by Abhimanyu, camp on the palace land, accompanied by their relevant Mahouty and Kavadis or assistants.
Elephants walk daily from the palace to Bannimantap Grounds – the terminal point of the DaSara parade – covering a little more than 5 km in this process. Their return march contributes to another 5 km, thriving 10 km daily.
In addition, the second dose of five more elephants will join them next week and will be exposed to carrying bags with sand weighing almost 500 kg to start, which will be gradually increased to reach a maximum of 1,000 to 1200 kg. This is to do the main elephant Abhimanyu acclimatize to carry the golden Howdah, which weighs about 750 kg, except the weight of the Mahout.
Similar “strength training” will be handed over to several other male elephants to transmit Howdah in case of any need.
To ensure that elephants remain fit, they are provided with a special diet that is carefully prepared and meets the nutritional requirements of fine giants.
Elephant
A male elephant requires about 750 kg of food every day
Women’s elephants consume about 550 kg to 600 kg of meals every day
What does this food include
Branch Fodder weighing 450 kg to 500 kg per elephant
Green grass weighs 175 kg to 200 kg
Unpeeled or wheat weighing 20 to 25 kg
Concentrated special diet
Green gram
Gram
Black gram
Rice
Vegetables
Gowda’s Prabhu, a forest representative, said every male elephant requires about 750 kg of food, while elephants consume about 550 kg to 600 kg of food. This includes feed of 450 kg to 500 kg on an elephant, 175 kg to 200 kg of green grass and 20 to 25 kg unpeeled or wheat. This is, besides concentrated special diet 10 kg to 12 kg per elephant per day. Concentrated special diet includes green gram, horse gram, black gram, cooked rice, vegetables, etc., said Mr. Gowda. While the amount changes in male and female elephants, the content is the same, he added.
Veterinary physicians and forest officials stated that the food is designed to provide corresponding calories to match the schedule of Jumbos exercise, preventing fat accumulation. The second batch of elephants includes several who are relatively new, and will undergo similar training and diet control, with a detailed diet, they have already been prepared, they said.
Unlike the past, the butter was downloaded from their diet, but a horse gram (hurrici) and a finger (ragi) were included. This is, unlike sugar cane, jaggers and coconuts that are provided to replenish rice balls, said Mr. Gowda.
“The aim is to give them balanced nutrition with components of building strength,” the clerk explained. The test has so far been smooth and the practice of how elephants go from the palace to Banimantap is to introduce them to the procession. In addition, elephants will also get used to the sight and sound of people, in addition to cacophony.
In weeks leading to the vijayadashmi procession, training will be as essential as a special diet, which ensures that elephants are physically and lively prepared for the royal march.
Published – 17th August 2025 23:28
