Mysuru's Iconic Dasara Festival Celebrates Majestic Elephant Parade

The Mysuru Dasara celebration, a century-old tradition, is set to captivate audiences once again with its grand elephant procession. As of September 30th, 2025, the forest department is utilizing all 14 elephants in the grand parade, with the 59-year-old Abhimanyu carrying the golden howdah at the forefront of the procession.

The selection process for these elephants is rigorous, ensuring that only the most well-behaved and majestic specimens participate in the celebration. The elephants were brought to Mysuru from various elephant camps across Karnataka two months prior to the festival to acclimate and undergo special training. They are adorned with vibrant decorations, including intricate paintings and ornaments, to enhance the grandeur of the event.

The procession will commence from the Mysuru Palace and make its way to the Bannimantap Parade Grounds, covering a five-kilometer stretch. Dhananjay will lead the elephant procession as the 'Nishane' elephant, while Gopi takes the place of second in command as the 'Noupath' elephant. The cultural carnival procession will feature the first batch of elephants, including Mahendra, Srikanta, and Lakshmi, followed by the second group of Kanjan, Bhima, and Ekalavya, and the third group of Prashant, Sugriva, and Hemavati.

The Dasara celebration, which marks the culmination of the Mysuru festivities, is set to captivate audiences with the majestic presence of these elephants, a true symbol of the region's cultural heritage.