Golden Howdah

The Golden Howdah (elephant seat or Chinnada Ambari in Kannada) is a howdah, the carrier mounted on the lead elephant during the Jamboo Savari (Elephant Procession) of the famous Mysore Dasara. It is the cynosure^{[citation needed]} of all eyes during the famous Dasara festivities.

The Howdah

The exact date of its making is not known. The 750-kg-howdah, used in the Jamboo Savari (elephant procession) on the Vijayadashami day, has two wide seats in rows, bigger than the interiors of a family car. The Rajas of Mysore used this howdah in the famous Dasara procession, which traversed through the thoroughfares of the princely city during the festival every year. But since the abolition of royalty the statue of Chamundeshwari is being carried in the howdah. The Howdah is made of Pure gold.

The Procession

The golden Howdah is mounted on the Lead elephant with the statue of Nadadevathe or State Deity Chamundeshwari place in it. The procession goes through the Mysore city for about 2 kilometers before terminating. The Elephant carrying the Howdah is trained and groomed to do the job years before it actually does it. Nowadays the honor of carrying the Golden howadh and the statue of Chamundeshwari has fallen on Elephant Balarama. As of September 2008 Balarama, has the distinction of participating in the procession 14 times and had the honour of carrying the howdah on nine occasions.