Preparations for the world-famous Mysuru Dasara 2026 have officially started with the traditional Gajapayana ceremony at Veeranahosahalli in Hunsur taluk. The first batch of elephants that will be participating in the great Dasara celebrations started when they moved to Mysuru after a traditional puja and ceremonial send-off.
The ceremony was held at Veeranahosahalli, close to the gateway to Nagarahole, where Karnataka minister Yatindra Siddaramaiah formally flagged off the elephant contingent after offering flowers and prayers.
This year’s Gajapayana has special emotional significance as veteran elephant Abhimanyu, who has carried the Ambari six times and participated in Mysuru Dasara celebrations for around 25 years, was given a ceremonial farewell.
Nine Elephants In First Batch
As part of the first phase of Gajapayana, nine elephants are also heading to Mysuru. The elephants include:
- Dhananjaya
- Mahendra
- Ekalavya
- Prashantha
- Gopi
- Srirama
- Srikanta
- Lakshmi
- Kaveri
In the first batch, elephant Srikanta will arrive in place of Sugreeva.
Before beginning their journey, the elephants were given a traditional welcome and worship. Elephant caretaker and priest Prahlad performed the Gajapuja as part of the ceremony.
21 Varieties Of Food Offered
The traditional rituals were accompanied by a special feast for the elephants.
Dasara elephant handlers prepared 21 different food items as an offering. The menu included sugarcane, bananas, chakli, paddy and a number of other food items that are appropriate for elephants.
The offerings were part of the traditional practice of worshipping the elephants before they begin their journey towards Mysuru for the Dasara festivities.
The ceremony also featured a number of traditional cultural performances. Dollu Kunitha, Veeragase, Kamsale, Chende and other folk art groups accompanied the Gajapayana, adding some colour and cultural grandeur to the occasion.
Abhimanyu Gets Emotional Farewell
The farewell of Abhimanyu was one of the biggest highlights of this year's Gajapayana.
The veteran elephant has been an integral part of Mysuru Dasara for about 25 years and has carried the golden Ambari six times. After he retired from Ambari duty, the government decided to honour his contribution during the Gajapayana itself.
As the other elephants prepared to leave for Mysuru, the members of the incoming Gajapade reportedly paid their respects to Abhimanyu.
The farewell ends a chapter in the Dasara history. Abhimanyu has become one of the most recognizable elephants associated with the Mysuru Dasara procession and the Ambari ceremony.
Will Abhimanyu Return As Nishane Elephant?
There is still no final decision on whether Abhimanyu will be brought back to Mysuru as the Nishane elephant.
Minister Yatindra Siddaramaiah said the government would consider the options and take a decision on this matter further. His participation in Dasara in any other capacity will therefore depend on further discussions and deliberations.
The possibility of seeing Abhimanyu again in the festival is still of interest for elephant lovers and Dasara enthusiasts.
Ambari Bearer Yet To Be Selected
Another important decision about this year's Dasara is the selection of the elephant that will carry the golden Ambari.
The government has not yet finalised the Ambari bearer for Dasara 2026.
According to Yatindra Siddaramaiah, the final decision will be taken after the elephants undergo training at Mysuru Palace. Their performance during the training period will be assessed before the elephant for the Ambari duty is selected.
This makes the upcoming training sessions particularly important for the Dasara preparations.
Gajapade To Reach Mysuru
According to Deputy Conservator of Forests Prabhugowda, the next phase of the elephant journey is scheduled for August 28 at 8:45 a.m., when the Gajapade will travel from the Forest Bhavan towards the Mysuru Palace.
The arrival of the elephants at the palace will mark another important stage in preparations for the grand Dasara festivities.
Once in Mysuru, the elephants will undergo extensive training and acclimatisation exercises before participating in various Dasara events.
Kambala Also Planned During Dasara
Another major attraction planned for this year's Dasara is Kambala, the traditional buffalo race.
Yatindra Siddaramaiah said that the government has already identified a location for conducting Kambala and that the Chief Minister has directed officials to organise the event.
The inclusion of Kambala is expected to add another traditional sporting attraction to the Dasara celebrations.
Traditional Gajapuja Continues
For generations, the Gajapuja has remained an important part of the Dasara preparations.
According to elephant priest Prahlad, the elephants are traditionally worshipped before being brought to Mysuru. Food items believed to be favourites of Lord Ganesha are offered as part of the ritual.
This year, however, the absence of Abhimanyu has made the occasion emotional for those associated with the elephant camp.
Prahlad said there was a sense of sadness because Abhimanyu would not be participating in the Dasara in his previous role, but the government’s decision would have to be followed.
A New Chapter For Mysuru Dasara
With the Gajapayana now underway, Mysuru is starting preparations for one of Karnataka’s biggest cultural festivals.
The arrival of the nine elephants in the first batch, the traditional Gajapuja, cultural performances and Abhimanyu’s farewell have given the beginning of Dasara 2026 special significance.
Although the selection of the new Ambari bearer is still pending, we hope that the elephant training at the palace will bring clarity to the matter.
For now, the journey from Veeranahosahalli to Mysuru marks the beginning of another grand Dasara season, even as Karnataka bids an emotional farewell to one of its most iconic Dasara elephants, Abhimanyu.
