Mangalamkunnu Karnan dies at 60

THRISSUR: Mangalamkunnu Karna, an elephant known for his ability to hold his heads up for a long time and winning in many heads-up competitions, died here Thursday morning. He was 60. He was suffering from old age problems for quite some time. Initial reports said he died of cardiac arrest. He will be cremated at Valayar forests.

Karnan, who won in many heads up competition was owned by Mangalamkunnu Parameswaran and Haridas brothers. Karnan won the title for the heads up competition for the ninth year in a row at North Paravur Chakkumarasseri Sreekumara Ganesha Temple. He had won Ithithanam Gajamela also.

Like actors, Karnan had fan associations in the state. Karnan's specialty is a confident posture that starts from the beginning till the end of an ezhunnallathu. Though a Bihari, Karna was as characteristic as the native elephants.

His height is 302 centimeters. Karnan reached Kerala from Varanasi in 1991. Karnan's head up was famous when he came itself.