Balarama (elephant) - Revision history

Veronasie: reworked details and corrected details for accuracy

2026-03-26T10:10:23Z

reworked details and corrected details for accuracy

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:40, 26 March 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=July ~~2017~~}}		{{Short description\|Asian elephant (c. 1958–2023)}}
			{{Use dmy dates\|date=July 2023}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=July 2017}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=July 2017}}
	{{Infobox animal		{{Infobox animal
Line 9:		Line 10:
	\| breed =		\| breed =
	\| gender = Male		\| gender = Male
	\| birth_date = c. {{~~Birth year and age~~\|~~1958~~}}		\| birth_date = {{circa\|1956}}
	\| birth_place =		\| birth_place =
	\| death_date =		\| death_date = {{death date and given age\|2023\|5\|7\|67\|df=y}}
	\| death_place =		\| death_place = Bheemanakatte Elephant camp
	\| resting_place =		\| resting_place =
	\| resting_place_coordinates =		\| resting_place_coordinates =
	\| relativeage =		\| relativeage =
	\| nationality = [[India]]		\| nationality = India
	\| occupation = [[Golden Howdah]] carrier		\| occupation = [[Golden Howdah]] carrier
	\| employer =		\| employer =
Line 29:		Line 30:
	\| website =		\| website =
	}}		}}
	'''Balarama''' (~~born c. 1958~~) was the lead [[elephant]] of the ~~world-famous~~ [[Mysore Dasara]] procession and carried the idol of goddess [[Chamundeshwari]] on the fabled [[Golden Howdah]] ~~for a~~ thirteen times between 1999 and 2011.<ref>{{cite news\|last1=Bennur\|first1=Shankar\|title=Arjuna to carry golden howdah this year\|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/arjuna-to-carry-golden-howdah-this-year/article4013863.ece\|accessdate=22 October 2015\|work=The Hindu\|date=20 October 2012}}</ref> Balarama is a bull born about 1958 and is accompanied in the procession by other [[Dasara Elephants]]. Of the many (about 16) elephants participating, Balarama was one of the star ~~attraction~~ when he carried on his back the sacred idol of goddess [[Chamundeshwari]] in the {{convert\|750\|kg}} golden howdah on the auspicious 10th day of Dasara celebrations.		'''Balarama''' ({{circa\|1956}} – 7 May 2023) was the lead [[elephant]] of the [[Mysore Dasara]] procession and carried the idol of goddess [[Chamundeshwari]] on the fabled [[Golden Howdah]] thirteen times between 1999 and 2011.<ref>{{cite news\|last1=Bennur\|first1=Shankar\|title=Arjuna to carry golden howdah this year\|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/arjuna-to-carry-golden-howdah-this-year/article4013863.ece\|accessdate=22 October 2015\|work=The Hindu\|date=20 October 2012}}</ref> Balarama was a bull born about 1958 and was accompanied in the procession by other [[Dasara Elephants]]. Of the many (about 16) elephants participating, Balarama was one of the star attractions when he carried on his back the sacred idol of goddess [[Chamundeshwari]] in the {{convert\|750\|kg}} golden howdah on the auspicious 10th day of Dasara celebrations.

	== History ==		== History ==
	Balarama was captured in 1987 in the Kattepura forest near [[Somwarpet]], in the [[Kodagu]] region of [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{cite news\|last1=Kumar\|first1=R. Krishna\|title=Know your Dasara elephants\|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/know-your-dasara-elephants/article6320447.ece\|accessdate=22 October 2015\|work=The Hindu\|date=15 August 2014}}</ref> Balarama has taken part in the Dasara procession since 1994, carrying the [[golden howdah]]. A very silent bull (against the norm for elephants), he is said to be an introvert, and ~~has~~ to have special training so he ~~can~~ withstand the firing of ~~canons~~ that occurs during the festival.{{who\|date=July 2012}}		Balarama was captured in 1987 in the Kattepura forest near [[Somwarpet]], in the [[Kodagu]] region of [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{cite news\|last1=Kumar\|first1=R. Krishna\|title=Know your Dasara elephants\|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/know-your-dasara-elephants/article6320447.ece\|accessdate=22 October 2015\|work=The Hindu\|date=15 August 2014}}</ref> Balarama has taken part in the Dasara procession since 1994, carrying the [[golden howdah]]. A very silent bull (against the norm for elephants), he was said to be an introvert, and had to have special training so he could withstand the firing of cannons that occurs during the festival.{{who\|date=July 2012}}

	He succeeded [[Drona (elephant)\|Drona]] as the carrier of the Golden Howdah.		He succeeded [[Drona (elephant)\|Drona]] as the carrier of the Golden Howdah.

	Balarama was not the first choice to carry the Howdah after Drona. Elephant Arjuna, a 44-year-old bull weighing {{Convert\|5600\|kg}} was supposed to be the carrier of the howdah, but was sidelined for accidentally killing a Mahout. One day, Arjuna went to bathe in a river with elephant Bahadur and Bahadur's trainer Annayya. While crossing a road, the elephants were startled by a vehicle and in the chaos that ensued, the rider Annayya fell down to the ground, only to be stamped on the head by Arjuna. He was crushed to death. People opined that an elephant that had killed a man was unfit to carry the religious duties of Dasara. So Arjuna, while being as capable as Drona, was not given the honorable duty, though he did have the honour of carrying the [[Chinnada Ambari]] once before being replaced by Balarama. Balarama ~~has now~~ been rested from the duty of carrying the Golden Howdah due to his reducing weight and has been succeeded by Arjuna. Balarama ~~now leads~~ the procession as the 'nishane aane' or the lead elephant.		Balarama was not the first choice to carry the Howdah after Drona. Elephant Arjuna, a 44-year-old bull weighing {{Convert\|5600\|kg}} was supposed to be the carrier of the howdah, but was sidelined for accidentally killing a Mahout. One day, Arjuna went to bathe in a river with elephant Bahadur and Bahadur's trainer Annayya. While crossing a road, the elephants were startled by a vehicle and in the chaos that ensued, the rider Annayya fell down to the ground, only to be stamped on the head by Arjuna. He was crushed to death. People opined that an elephant that had killed a man was unfit to carry the religious duties of Dasara. So Arjuna, while being as capable as Drona, was not given the honorable duty, though he did have the honour of carrying the [[Chinnada Ambari]] once before being replaced by Balarama. Balarama had been rested from the duty of carrying the Golden Howdah due to his reducing weight and has been succeeded by Arjuna. Balarama led the procession as the 'nishane aane' or the lead elephant.

	Balarama's Mahout Sannappa once refused to mount Balarama after his family were stopped by the police from watching him ride during [[Mysore Dasara\|Dasara]].		Balarama's Mahout Sannappa once refused to mount Balarama after his family were stopped by the police from watching him ride during [[Mysore Dasara\|Dasara]].

	Balarama ~~refuses~~ food given to him by anybody other than his [[Mahout]]. Balarama ~~weighs~~ about 4590 Kilograms and he ~~conquers~~ the hearts of human beings by his majestic looks and the silence that he ~~possess~~. He is looked after at the Morkal Elephant camp at Nagarahole national park and his previous mahout Sannappa has retired and his new master Thimma has taken over. ~~At 61 years he still looks strong though~~ his ~~weight has reduced over~~ the ~~years~~.		Balarama refused food given to him by anybody other than his [[Mahout]]. Balarama weighed about 4590 Kilograms and he conquered the hearts of human beings by his majestic looks and the silence that he possessed. He was looked after at the Morkal Elephant camp at Nagarahole national park and his previous mahout Sannappa has retired and his new master Thimma has taken over.

			The 67-year-old elephant was critically ill and under the care of a veterinarians at the Bhimanakatte elephant camp in the Hunsur range of the Nagarhole park. Despite the efforts of the medical team, Balarama's condition deteriorated. According to reports, Balarama had been recovering from an ulcer in his mouth but the veterinarian treating him suspected that he may have been suffering from tuberculosis. He died on 7 May 2023.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/spectrum/an-elephant-never-forgotten-1217507.html\|title=An elephant never forgotten\|work=Deccan Herald\|date=10 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/elephant-balarama-of-mysuru-dasara-fame-dies-at-67-2376291-2023-05-08\|title=Elephant Balarama of Mysuru Dasara fame dies at 67\|work=India Today\|date=8 May 2023}}</ref>

			==See also==
			* [[List of individual elephants]]

	==References==		==References==
Line 46:		Line 52:

	== External links ==		== External links ==
	*Balarama: A Royal Elephant, [[Ted Lewin\|Ted & Besty Lewin]], [[Lee & Low Books]], 2009-08-01, {{ISBN\|978-1-60060-265-8}}.		*''Balarama: A Royal Elephant'', [[Ted Lewin\|Ted & Besty Lewin]], [[Lee & Low Books]], 2009-08-01, {{ISBN\|978-1-60060-265-8}}.
	*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070313111058/http://www.hindu.com/2005/10/13/stories/2005101316600100.htm Colour photo and news article]		*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070313111058/http://www.hindu.com/2005/10/13/stories/2005101316600100.htm Colour photo and news article]
	*[https://web.archive.org/web/20161018013946/http://www.mysoresamachar.com/dasara02_04.htm News article ~~form~~ Mysoresamachar]		*{{usurped\|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20161018013946/http://www.mysoresamachar.com/dasara02_04.htm News article from Mysoresamachar]}}
	*[http://www.deccanherald.com/content/95789/balarama-carry-howdah-last-time.html Deccan Herald]		*[http://www.deccanherald.com/content/95789/balarama-carry-howdah-last-time.html ''Deccan Herald'']
	*[https://web.archive.org/web/20190209180342/https://www.udayavani.com/news/187744L15-400-%E0%B2%95--%E0%B2%9C---%E0%B2%95-%E0%B2%B8-%E0%B2%A6-%E0%B2%85-%E0%B2%AC-%E0%B2%B0--%E0%B2%B9-%E0%B2%B0-%E0%B2%B5-%E0%B2%AC%E0%B2%B2%E0%B2%B0-%E0%B2%AE--.html Udayavaani]		*[https://web.archive.org/web/20190209180342/https://www.udayavani.com/news/187744L15-400-%E0%B2%95--%E0%B2%9C---%E0%B2%95-%E0%B2%B8-%E0%B2%A6-%E0%B2%85-%E0%B2%AC-%E0%B2%B0--%E0%B2%B9-%E0%B2%B0-%E0%B2%B5-%E0%B2%AC%E0%B2%B2%E0%B2%B0-%E0%B2%AE--.html Udayavaani]

	~~{{DEFAULTSORT~~:~~Balarama (Elephant)}}~~		[[Category:1950s animal births]]
	[[Category:~~Individual elephants~~]]		[[Category:2023 animal deaths]]
	[[Category:Culture of Mysore]]		[[Category:Culture of Mysore]]
	[[Category:~~Elephants~~ in India]]		[[Category:Individual elephants in India]]
			[[Category:Individual Asian elephants]]

>GreenC bot: Rescued 1 archive link. Wayback Medic 2.5

2021-04-21T19:42:21Z

Rescued 1 archive link. Wayback Medic 2.5

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox animal
| name = Balarama
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| species = ''[[Elephas maximus]]'' (Asian Elephant)
| breed =
| gender = Male
| birth_date = c. {{Birth year and age|1958}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| relativeage =
| nationality = [[India]]
| occupation = [[Golden Howdah]] carrier
| employer =
| years_active = 1999–2011
| known = [[Mysore Dasara]]
| predecessor = [[Drona (elephant)|Drona]]
| successor = [[Arjuna (elephant)|Arjuna]]
| owner = [[Mahout]] Thimma
| weight = 4535 Kilograms
| height = {{height|m=2.7|precision=0}}
| namedafter = [[Balarama]]
| website =
}}
'''Balarama''' (born c. 1958) was the lead [[elephant]] of the world-famous [[Mysore Dasara]] procession and carried the idol of goddess [[Chamundeshwari]] on the fabled [[Golden Howdah]] for a thirteen times between 1999 and 2011.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bennur|first1=Shankar|title=Arjuna to carry golden howdah this year|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/arjuna-to-carry-golden-howdah-this-year/article4013863.ece|accessdate=22 October 2015|work=The Hindu|date=20 October 2012}}</ref> Balarama is a bull born about 1958 and is accompanied in the procession by other [[Dasara Elephants]]. Of the many (about 16) elephants participating, Balarama was one of the star attraction when he carried on his back the sacred idol of goddess [[Chamundeshwari]] in the {{convert|750|kg}} golden howdah on the auspicious 10th day of Dasara celebrations.

== History ==
Balarama was captured in 1987 in the Kattepura forest near [[Somwarpet]], in the [[Kodagu]] region of [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kumar|first1=R. Krishna|title=Know your Dasara elephants|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/know-your-dasara-elephants/article6320447.ece|accessdate=22 October 2015|work=The Hindu|date=15 August 2014}}</ref> Balarama has taken part in the Dasara procession since 1994, carrying the [[golden howdah]]. A very silent bull (against the norm for elephants), he is said to be an introvert, and has to have special training so he can withstand the firing of canons that occurs during the festival.{{who|date=July 2012}}

He succeeded [[Drona (elephant)|Drona]] as the carrier of the Golden Howdah.

Balarama was not the first choice to carry the Howdah after Drona. Elephant Arjuna, a 44-year-old bull weighing {{Convert|5600|kg}} was supposed to be the carrier of the howdah, but was sidelined for accidentally killing a Mahout. One day, Arjuna went to bathe in a river with elephant Bahadur and Bahadur's trainer Annayya. While crossing a road, the elephants were startled by a vehicle and in the chaos that ensued, the rider Annayya fell down to the ground, only to be stamped on the head by Arjuna. He was crushed to death. People opined that an elephant that had killed a man was unfit to carry the religious duties of Dasara. So Arjuna, while being as capable as Drona, was not given the honorable duty, though he did have the honour of carrying the [[Chinnada Ambari]] once before being replaced by Balarama. Balarama has now been rested from the duty of carrying the Golden Howdah due to his reducing weight and has been succeeded by Arjuna. Balarama now leads the procession as the 'nishane aane' or the lead elephant.

Balarama's Mahout Sannappa once refused to mount Balarama after his family were stopped by the police from watching him ride during [[Mysore Dasara|Dasara]].

Balarama refuses food given to him by anybody other than his [[Mahout]]. Balarama weighs about 4590 Kilograms and he conquers the hearts of human beings by his majestic looks and the silence that he possess. He is looked after at the Morkal Elephant camp at Nagarahole national park and his previous mahout Sannappa has retired and his new master Thimma has taken over. At 61 years he still looks strong though his weight has reduced over the years.

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*Balarama: A Royal Elephant, [[Ted Lewin|Ted & Besty Lewin]], [[Lee & Low Books]], 2009-08-01, {{ISBN|978-1-60060-265-8}}.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070313111058/http://www.hindu.com/2005/10/13/stories/2005101316600100.htm Colour photo and news article]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20161018013946/http://www.mysoresamachar.com/dasara02_04.htm News article form Mysoresamachar]
*[http://www.deccanherald.com/content/95789/balarama-carry-howdah-last-time.html Deccan Herald]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20190209180342/https://www.udayavani.com/news/187744L15-400-%E0%B2%95--%E0%B2%9C---%E0%B2%95-%E0%B2%B8-%E0%B2%A6-%E0%B2%85-%E0%B2%AC-%E0%B2%B0--%E0%B2%B9-%E0%B2%B0-%E0%B2%B5-%E0%B2%AC%E0%B2%B2%E0%B2%B0-%E0%B2%AE--.html Udayavaani]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Balarama (Elephant)}}
[[Category:Individual elephants]]
[[Category:Culture of Mysore]]
[[Category:Elephants in India]]