| Species | Elephas maximus (Asian Elephant) |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Born | c. 1956 |
| Died | (aged 67) Bheemanakatte Elephant camp |
| Nation from | India |
| Occupation | Golden Howdah carrier |
| Years active | 1999–2011 |
| Known for | Mysore Dasara |
| Predecessor | Drona |
| Successor | Arjuna |
| Owner | Mahout Thimma |
| Weight | 4535 Kilograms |
| Height | 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) |
| Named after | Balarama |
Balarama (c. 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.[1] 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 750 kilograms (1,650 lb) golden howdah on the auspicious 10th day of Dasara celebrations.