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The Elephant carrying the golden howdah is the highlight of the grand Dasara festival in Mysuru. Kings stopped riding in the howdah in 1969, but the elephants never stopped carrying it. This year, Mysuru has picked the next elephant, Prashantha. Walk through The Hindu's archives with us to explore the journey of the famous Dasara elephants.
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Every year, during the Dasara festival, a grand procession is undertaken from the Mysuru Palace to the Bannimantap Parade Grounds. The chief attraction of this parade is an elephant decked out in splendour, carrying the golden howdah.
The howdah started out as a structure originally meant for Mysuru's kings to ride in. However, the Mysuru maharaja stopped riding in them in 1969. Even so, the elephants never stopped carrying it. This year, a new elephant replaced the old one, and the tradition continues.
But first, before the parade, the elephants undertake a journey from the forests. Here is how it begins.
In August, the elephants walked in from the forests of Nagarahole. This is called the Gajapayana, the elephants' journey.
Once in Mysuru, they march five kilometres twice a day, from the palace to Bannimantap, to learn the route and get used to the din.
For the trial exercise, they carry a wooden copy of the howdah. Mahendra's load comes to nearly 850 kg.
The load on their backs grows, day by day, in preparation for the weight of the howdah.
1000kg may seem like a lot to bear, but to put the weight in perspective, let's look at the weights of some Dasara elephants.
On the third round of the trial exercise, Mahendra stops and will not go on.
Four elephants are left, Dhananjaya, Sugreeva, Ekalavya and Prashantha.
On Vijayadashami, one of them, Prashantha, was chosen to carry the real howdah.
This is the golden howdah.
It weighs 750 kg.
What sits inside it today is a bronze idol of the goddess Chamundeshwari. It weighs not more than 10 kg.
So why is the seat at least 75 times heavier than its current passenger?
Because it was built for a king.
However, it did not always have a king in it. Over the years, the howdah's occupant has changed.
In the howdahThe Maharaja
The king got off.
The weight stayed on.
A fitting adieu
Mysuru's Dasara elephants are no less decorated after the procession than during it. Their passing is mourned deeply by their mahouts, and the State pays high honours.
After their years of service carrying the howdah, the Dasara elephants are remembered with fondness and respect after their passing.
Drona, 1997. Reaching for a branch in the forest, he touched a high-tension wire.
Balarama, 2023. Died at his camp, aged 67. He had a huge fan following and his very own Wikepedia entry.
Arjuna, 2023. Killed fighting a wild tusker. Vinod, his mahout, was inconsolable at his funeral and could be seen trying to wake him up, evoking the emotions of the crowd.
Three rounds were fired in the air.
Gun salutes used to be for kings.
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