Elephant Lakshmi to lead Hyderabad’s Bibi ka Alam procession after wildlife clearance issues

An elephant named Lakshmi has been arranged to lead the Bibi ka Alam procession in Hyderabad on Sunday, 10th Muharram. After facing wildlife clearance issues with an elephant from Delhi, Lakshmi was selected for the prestigious role

Hyderabad: Finally, an elephant has been arranged to lead the Bibi ka Alam procession to be taken out on Sunday, the 10th day of the month of Muharram.

The organisers had identified an elephant, Lakshmi, belonging to Sri Sri Sri Jagad Guru Chenna Basava Rajendra Maha Samigal at Sri Karibasava Swamy Mutt at Horapete in Tumkur, Karnataka.

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Sources said after visiting several States, the elephant was finally arranged for the Bibi ka Alam procession. Earlier, an elephant from Delhi was selected to lead the procession, but a no-objection certificate was not issued due to wildlife rules.

The organisers then amplified their efforts to arrange another elephant and finally managed to get Lakshmi. The elephant is expected to reach the city later at night, and a trial run will be held on Thursday or Friday.

The Bibi ka Alam is taken out on an elephant every year since the Nizam era. The procession starts from Alawe Bibi and after passing through Shaik Faiz Kaman, Yakutpura Road, Etebar Chowk, Alijah Kotla, Charminar, Gulzar Houz, Panjeshah, Mandi Miralam, Darulshifa, and culminates at Chaderghat.

The Endowments Department had also identified and arranged the same elephants for four Bonalu processions to be held in the city from July 14 until the end of the month.