The Jamboo Savari forms an integral part of the Mysore Dasara festival on the day of Vijayadashami. The Mysore Ambari is a carrier on which the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari is placed and mounted on the elephant. The elephant with the Goddess would lead the Jamboo Savari during Mysore Dasara. Initially, the Mysore kings were seated on the Ambari and went about in procession during the Mysore Dasara. However, with the abolishment of royalty, the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari has been replaced.
The beauty of the Mysore Ambari
The Mysore Ambari is a magnificent wooden structure covered with gold sheets weighing 80 kg with detailed designs. It was made by ‘Swarnakala Nipuna,’ Singannacharya. The Howdah or the Mysore Ambari weighs 750 kg. It consists of two wide seats in rows for the members of the royal family. Battery-operated lights are attached to the Ambari for the king’s use to keep control during the procession.
Two fly whisks with finely cut ivory to form the bristles, are found on both sides of the Ambari. Their ends are in gold and silver zari. The structure also has three beautifully carved pillars on the four sides. It also has a canopy that looks like a crown for its cover and five Kalashs on top of it. The silver seat is beautifully designed with embellishments. The public gets to see the Ambari only during the Dasara festival.
The Dasara Procession on Mysore Ambari
During the early days, the king would sit on the Ambari and go on a procession on an elephant. He would acknowledge the offerings from people by touching them, handed over to him by the elephant and returned. However, the custom is replaced by mounting the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari on the Ambari in the later days. Shri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar was the last member of the royal family to ride in the Ambari.
The procession proceeds for 5.5 kilometres, traversing through the Mysore city. It begins from the Mysore palace and culminates at Bannimantap. The elephant that leads with the Ambari is groomed for years before the event. Balarama, the elephant, did the task for thirteen years, followed by Arjuna for nine years. Since 2020, after its demise, the elephant Abhimanyu has succeeded the elephant Arjuna.
To conclude, the Mysore Dasara procession with the Ambari atop the elephant is a sight to behold.