The golden howdah waits

Every Dasara, an elephant carries a golden howdah through Mysuru's streets from the palace to Bannimantap Parade Grounds. Kings stopped riding in it in 1969, but the tradition continues.

“Kings stopped riding in the howdah in 1969, but the elephants never stopped carrying it.”

The weight of history

The golden howdah weighs seven hundred fifty kilograms. It was built for a king to ride in, so it is far heavier than its current passenger, a bronze idol of the goddess Chamundeshwari.

Training begins in August

In August, elephants walk in from the forests of Nagarahole in what is called the Gajapayana, the elephants' journey. Once in Mysuru, they march five kilometres twice daily to learn the route.

The load grows heavier

For trial exercises, elephants carry a wooden copy of the howdah. Mahendra's load comes to nearly eight hundred fifty kilograms. The load grows day by day in preparation for the full weight.

Four elephants remain

On the third round of trial exercise, Mahendra stops and will not go on. Four elephants are left: Dhananjaya, Sugreeva, Ekalavya and Prashantha. One will carry the howdah on Vijayadashami.

Abhimanyu steps down

Abhimanyu turned sixty this year, and the rules say he must stop.He carried the howdah for the last six years.The city asked for one more walk, so he will walk as the flag elephant.

Prashantha takes over

Prashantha has been chosen as Abhimanyu's successor and will carry the golden howdah at Dasara twenty twenty-six. When Dasara ends, all the elephants return home to the forest.