Forest Department officials will choose suitable elephant to carry golden howdah this year: Ramalinga Reddy
Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy announced that officials will select a new elephant to carry the golden howdah for the Mysuru Dasara procession following the retirement of Abhimanyu. The minister also addressed concerns regarding forest department security following a recent violent encounter.
Why it matters
The selection of the lead elephant is a significant cultural event in Karnataka, while the minister's comments address ongoing tensions between forest authorities and local communities.
Forest Department officials will choose a suitable elephant to carry the golden howdah during the Vijayadashami procession in Mysuru this year.
Fielding queries from reporters in Mysuru on Friday, Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy said department officials would recommend which elephant is best suited to carry the golden howdah after the elephants undergo training.
Abhimanyu, who successfully carried the golden howdah for the last six years, has been retired from Dasara duties on turning 60.
The first batch of nine elephants arrived at Mysuru Palace on Friday. The final selection of the elephant to carry the Ambari, or golden howdah, will be made after the training phase is completed, Mr. Reddy said.
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