Mysuru: The 13 Dasara elephants began their final two days of rehearsals in front of Mysuru Palace on Sunday, following 48 days of training for the grand Vijayadashami Jamboo Savari procession scheduled for October 21.

Prashantha, the elephant selected to carry the golden howdah this year, led the rehearsal towards the podium, flanked by Cauvery and Roopa. The practice session marked a crucial stage in preparations for the annual procession, which draws thousands of visitors to Mysuru during Dasara.

Chief Conservator of Forests, Mysuru Circle, S S Ravishankar; Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) I B Prabhugowda; and Mysuru City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar offered floral tributes during the rehearsal.

The final preparations are being carried out to ensure that the elephants, their mahouts and the officials involved are ready for the procession, one of the most prominent events of Mysuru Dasara.

Prashantha to carry golden howdah

Prashantha has been selected to carry the golden howdah bearing the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari during the Jamboo Savari on Vijayadashami, October 21.

Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is scheduled to offer floral tributes to the deity housed in the golden howdah at the conclusion of the procession. According to sources, the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala, who are expected to attend the procession, may also join Shivakumar on the podium.

Prashantha’s selection followed training and assessment of several elephants for the demanding responsibility of carrying the golden howdah. Mahendra, Dhananjaya, Ekalavya and Sugreeva were among the elephants trained to carry a load equivalent to its weight.

Prashantha was finalised for the role after the training programme concluded on Tuesday, according to the report.

Abhimanyu takes on a different role

Veteran elephant Abhimanyu, who carried the golden howdah for six consecutive years until last year, has been relieved of the responsibility this year after turning 60.

During Sunday’s rehearsal, Abhimanyu marched at the forefront as the Nishaane elephant, leading the procession. Gopi followed as the Nauphath elephant.

Mahendra and Lakshmi, Srirama, Chithra and Sugreeva, and Srikanta and Ekalavya marched as Saalanes in three batches.

The elephants have designated roles in the Jamboo Savari, with their order and formation forming an important part of the traditional procession. The rehearsal allows handlers and officials to check their movement and coordination ahead of the main event.

Police band and mounted cops join rehearsal

The Mysuru Police band, led by bandmaster B Manjunath, played the national anthem and, for the first time during the floral benediction rehearsal, the national song Vande Mataram.

Mounted police personnel also participated in the practice session. Parade commander K N Suresh and assistant parade commander Sharanappa Sasanur accompanied the golden-howdah elephant.

The participation of police personnel, parade officials and forest department officers is part of the preparations to coordinate the procession and manage the large crowds expected on Vijayadashami.

48 days of training for the grand procession

The elephants’ preparations began well before the final rehearsal. The first batch of nine Dasara elephants arrived at Aranya Bhavan in Mysuru following the traditional Gajapayana event 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 their arrival. From August 30, they were provided with a special nutritious diet to maintain their strength and build stamina for the procession.

Training also began on August 30, with the elephants first familiarised with crowds and the procession route from the palace to the Government Ayurveda College Circle. From September 5, they were introduced to the full route extending to Bannimantap grounds.

Training to carry additional weight began on September 6. The second batch, comprising Sugreeva, Roopa and Chaithra, arrived on September 13, further strengthening the group participating in the festivities.

Wooden howdah training and cannon-fire practice

The elephants began training to carry a wooden howdah on September 25. This was followed by familiarisation with cannon-fire sounds from brass barrels on October 7, 9 and 12.

The exercise is intended to help the elephants remain accustomed to the loud sounds expected during the Vijayadashami procession. A total of 21 cannon shots will be fired during the floral benediction to Goddess Chamundeshwari at the conclusion of the Jamboo Savari.

The phased training programme has included route familiarisation, crowd exposure, weight-bearing exercises and preparation for the sounds and activity associated with the procession.

Final preparations underway

With the final rehearsal under way, the forest department, police and other officials are completing preparations for the October 21 procession. The elephants’ training and carefully assigned roles are central to ensuring the traditional Jamboo Savari proceeds as planned.

Prashantha’s debut as the golden-howdah carrier marks a change in the lead role after Abhimanyu’s long tenure, while the participation of all 13 elephants will remain a major attraction of this year’s Mysuru Dasara celebrations.