Mysuru: Confusion and fear prevailed within the palace premises for some time as everyone was caught off guard including the caretakers, as one of the dasara pachyderms started running helter-skelter wthin the palace prmises on Saturday, August 27.
The erratic run by pachyderm Balarama which sent shivers among the people around, ultimately came to a grinding halt when the pachyderm stood still in front of the portrait of late Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar after running for more than a kilometer.
Even the young trainee Mahout failed to bring it under his control as he himself lost control and fell down. Pachyderm Balarama was being taken for a bath and weight measure by the trainee mahout when the incident occurred.
Balarama, favourite of erstwhile scion
The late scion Srikantadatta Wodeyar used to like pachyderm Balarama and take a bow in front of the pachyderm before proceeding from the palace area during Dasara. Balarama which carried golden howdah for 13 years was loved immensely by the late Wodeyar, according to its mahout Naushad.
Now everyone is wondering whether it was pachyderm’s way of paying tribute to the late scion when it stood still in front his portrait near the arch of the royal family residence where the portrait of late scion is placed!
