Dasara explained: Mysuru Jambusavari on Oct 21
Published IST · 10 sources · 1000+ searches today
Mysuru Dasara is trending because the 2026 Jambusavari will be held on 21 October, Vijayadashami day, and Mysuru is ready for the closing procession of the 10-day festival. People are also searching because a new elephant, 54-year-old Prashanth from Dubare elephant camp, will carry the golden howdah for the first time.
What happened
As of 20 October 2026, the main reason Dasara is in the news is that Mysuru Dasara 2026 Jambusavari will take place on 21 October, which is Vijayadashami day. This procession marks the grand conclusion of the ten-day festival.
This year, Prashanth will carry the golden howdah for the first time. He is a 54-year-old elephant from Dubare elephant camp and has been part of Mysuru Dasara for the past 18 years.
Why Prashanth’s selection matters
Prashanth was chosen because of his calm nature, ability to carry heavy loads, and long experience in Dasara duties. Before the selection, elephants were trained for several weeks and tested for physical strength and weight-bearing ability.
The choice has drawn attention because it adds a new name to Mysuru’s long list of howdah elephants. People are also comparing this year’s selection with earlier elephants in the tradition of carrying the golden ambari.
Key numbers and roles in the procession
Prashanth will carry a golden howdah weighing about 750 kg, which contains the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari. During training, he was made to carry weights ranging from about 700 kg to 1,000 kg.
In the Jambusavari, Dhananjaya has been assigned as the reserve ambari elephant, Abhimanyu as the flag-bearer elephant, and Gopi as the nawath elephant. Kaveri and Roopa will support Prashanth as kumki elephants.
Background and what to watch next
This selection has also renewed interest in the history of Mysuru Dasara’s ambari elephants. Arjuna carried the howdah for eight straight Dasaras from 2012 to 2019, and from 2020 that responsibility was transferred to Abhimanyu.
The discussion of “from Jayamarthanda to Prashanth” reflects this long tradition and the fact that a new elephant is taking on the main duty for the first time. The main event to watch next is the Jambusavari on 21 October 2026.
Frequently asked
Sources
- [1] vijayavani.net
- [2] karnataka.com
- [3] vijaykarnataka.com
- [4] inmysore.com
- [5] cnbctv18.com
- [6] varthabharati.in
- [7] urbanacres.in
- [8] tv9kannada.com
- [9] kannada.timesnownews.com
- [10] justkannada.in
Researched automatically from live news and written by Simpledot's AI; facts are limited to what the sources above report as of the published time. Spot an error? Tell us.