Hassan: Aware of the crowds coming in the way of the Jumbo Savari that draws the curtains on the Mysuru Dasara festivities, Deputy Conservator of Forests V. Yedukondalu, who is overseeing the welfare of the jumbos, is taking all steps this year to ensure that people are kept far away from elephants going in procession.

Speaking to DC, Mr Yedukondalu said he would hold discussions with members of the Dasara procession committee, the mahouts, veterinarian Nagaraj and Mysuru city police commissioner Subramanyeswara Rao to draw up a plan for a more disciplined Jumbo Savari this year.

Every year people strain to get close to the elephant carrying the colossal golden howdah during the 6 km procession from Mysuru Palace to Bannimantapa. Some gather around to click selfies with the elephants, giving officials a hard time keeping them in order.

The enthusiastic crowds are also a nightmare for the mahouts, who need to make sure that the elephants make their way carefully through them without causing anyone any harm. Mahout Vinu, who sits on the elephant carrying the golden howdah, says he longs for a clear passage along the route of the procession for the sake of jumbos.

“If they are allowed to walk without interruption the procession can be completed half-an-hour early and the animals will not be stressed out either,” he said, suggesting a distance of 20 ft should be maintained around the jumbos by policemen to allow them a comfortable walk.

During the last Jumbo Savari, he had to appeal to the people to get out of the way to allow howdah elephant Arjuna to make his way down the road flanked by two female elephants, he said.