How to dress a maharana's elephant / Behind the Scenes / Happenings / V&A Channel

Formal processions featuring elephants and horses were at the heart of the ceremonial rituals that underpinned the workings of the royal courts of India. As part of their research for the V&A exhibition, Maharajas, V&A staff observed Ramu the elephant as she was adorned with textiles, 'howdah' (the seat) and elephant jewellery belonging to the Maharana of Mewar. Exhibition designer David Germond measured Ramu's vital statistics and her dimensions were used for the Maharaja exhibition's life-size model of an elephant in procession.