As the days of Mysuru’s iconic Dasara festival draw near, celebrations and preparations are taking place with great enthusiasm. Today, a weight test for the Dasara elephants was conducted to assess their weight and suitability for carrying the ambari (howdah) during the Jumboo Savari. The test took place at Sai Ram Electronic Weighbridge on Dhanvantari Road within the Mysore Palace premises, where a camp for the nine Dasara elephants has been set up.

In the weight test, Bhima emerged as the heaviest elephant, weighing a remarkable 5,465 kg, securing the top spot. Captain Abhimanyu, weighing 5,360 kg (60 kg more than last year’s 5.3 tons), took second place. Last year, Abhimanyu held the top position, but Bhima surpassed all elephants this time, showcasing exceptional strength. Since 2017, Bhima has been a consistent participant in the Dasara Jumboo Savari, steadily increasing its weight and strength.

In 2024, Bhima weighed around 4,000 kg, and now, at just 25 years old, this young elephant is on the verge of reaching 5.5 tons, aiming to break the record of Arjuna, who weighed over 6 tons.

Veteran elephant Dhananjaya, a nine-year Dasara participant, weighed 5,310 kg, securing third place.

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Ekalavya, a 40-year-old elephant known for its height and attractive ears, weighed 5,305 kg, taking fourth place. Mahendra, who participates in Srirangapatna Dasara and has filled the role of Arjuna in combing operations, weighed 5,120 kg, while Prashant weighed 5,110 kg.

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Kanjan, a 26-year-old majestic elephant participating in Dasara for the third time, weighed 4,880 kg. Among the female elephants, Lakshmi weighed 3,730 kg, and Kaveri weighed 3,010 kg.

The event was attended by DCF I.B. Prabhugouda and forest department staff, who oversaw the proceedings.