Mysuru Dasara: Prashantha to be lead elephant carrying golden howdah in Vijayadashami procession

Mangalore Today News Network

Mysuru, Oct 15, 2026: After 45 days of intensive training, the Forest Department has finalised the roles of all 13 Dasara elephants for the grand Jamboo Savari procession on Vijayadashami, October 21.

Prashantha, a 54-year-old elephant who has participated in the Mysuru Dasara celebrations for 18 years, has been selected to carry the golden howdah (Ambari) bearing the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari. Dhananjaya has been designated as the reserve howdah elephant, while Cauvery and Roopa will accompany Prashantha as kumki elephants on either side.

Abhimanyu, who carried the golden howdah for six consecutive years until last year, will lead the procession as the Nishaane elephant. Gopi will follow as the Nauphath elephant.

The remaining elephants will participate in three batches of saalane elephants: Mahendra and Lakshmi; Srirama, Chithra and Sugreeva; and Srikanta and Ekalavya.

District in-charge Minister S. Yathindra announced the arrangements.

Abhimanyu, who has turned 60, has been relieved of the responsibility of carrying the golden howdah this year. Accordingly, Prashantha, Mahendra, Dhananjaya, Ekalavya and Sugreeva underwent specialised training to carry loads equivalent to the weight of the ceremonial howdah. Following the completion of the training on Tuesday, Prashantha emerged as the preferred candidate.

Chief Conservator of Forests, Mysuru Circle, S.S. Ravishankar, and Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Dasara elephant in-charge I.B. Prabhugowda said Prashantha was selected after a comprehensive assessment of physical fitness, endurance, load-bearing capacity, temperament and performance during training.

They noted that Prashantha has a broad, even and flat back, providing a suitable anatomical structure for carrying the ceremonial howdah.

During the training, Prashantha carried a 700-kg sandbag load on September 16 and a 1,000-kg load on September 17 and September 28. He also demonstrated the endurance required to navigate the designated 11-km procession route between the Mysuru Palace and Bannimantap grounds.

His calm temperament and ability to respond to instructions from experienced mahouts were additional factors in his selection. Officials said the howdah elephant must remain composed amid large crowds, ceremonial music, moving elephants and other distractions.

The selection followed consultations among Forest Department officials, veterinary officers and experienced mahouts, taking into account the elephants’ physical condition, walking stability, anatomical suitability, experience and performance during training.

The first batch of nine Dasara elephants arrived at Aranya Bhavan in Mysuru following the traditional Gajapayana ceremony at Veeranahosahalli in Hunsur taluk on August 26. They received a traditional welcome at the Mysuru Palace on August 28 and have been housed there since then.

Their weights were recorded and special diets introduced on August 30, when training also began. Initially, the elephants were familiarised with crowds, vehicle noise and the route from the Palace to the Government Ayurveda College Circle. From September 5, they were trained along the entire route up to Bannimantap grounds, with load-bearing exercises beginning on September 6.

The second batch, comprising Sugreeva, Roopa and Chithra, arrived on September 13. Training to carry the wooden howdah began on September 25.

The elephants were also familiarised with cannon fire from brass barrels on October 7, 9 and 12 as part of preparations for the grand Vijayadashami procession.