'Weighing 1,200 kg, 6.5 feet tall'; 'Bheeman' slowly replacing elephants in temple festivals

KOLLAM: Standing 6.5 feet tall and 10 feet long, with a long tail, curled horns, broad forehead, jet-black colour, and a hairy body—'Bheeman,' the massive buffalo from Summerland Farm in Veliyam, Kollam, is stepping in to replace elephants in festive processions.

Weighing around 1,200 kg, this giant buffalo commands attention when adorned with ‘chilanka’ (anklets), decorative garlands, and colourful silk cloths. While buffaloes of the 'Murrah' breed typically weigh up to 650 kg, Bheeman—who was exceptionally large even as a calf—reached a weight of 1,200 kg by the age of four.

He has already participated in 15 processions associated with temple festivals and Onam celebrations. Bheeman is transported to the venues by lorry, with charges ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 35,000 depending on the distance.

Vinod Lal runs a business involving the purchase and sale of 'Murrah' breed buffaloes from Haryana. It was during a trip to Haryana a year and a half ago that he spotted an exceptionally large, two-and-a-half-year-old buffalo. Vinod acquired Bheeman for a hefty price of four lakh rupees. Its diet primarily consists of straw, grass, *boosa* (chopped wheat straw), and boiled tapioca. The massive animal remains unshaken even when three people climb onto its back.

At Summerland Farm, the other buffaloes and cows are bathed only once a day. Bheeman, however, is bathed twice daily after being rubbed with neem oil. A repellent is also regularly applied to keep insects away.

"He is of a gentle nature. Because of that, six months ago, we decided to take Bheeman to processions." — Vinod Kumar, Owner