First the elephant is captured in the forest and there is a four-day ceremony to ensure that it is a genuine white elephant and familiarize the elephant with people. Then the elephant is moved on to a raft to transport it to the city. During the journey there are four monks who perform a charting prayer all day and all night for the elephant. When the raft arrives at the city there is anther ceremony to feature the illustrious elephant. First the rite of tethering the animal is performed which consists of Buddhist and Brahmin rites.
The elephant is tied by rope to a stake to get it accustomed to the new life, and so that it will not be restless in front of the king when he performs the ceremony. There are various offerings and people respect the elephant as it now has the same status as a prince of royal blood. Next there is the registration ceremony, when the king pours illustrate water from a gourd and a royal conch shell on the elephants head.

The king then feeds the elephant 3 sections of red sugar cane on which a Brahmin has inscribed its name .The king marks 3 dots on the elephant elephant's forehead with moistened fragrant flour as a sign of blessing. The following day everyone celebrates the registration of the new white elephant.
A royal elephant is one, which is decreed by the king. It is exalted to the rank of a royal elephant and is royal property. In ancient times, royal elephants were divided in to 3 groups;

1. Elephants which were reserved for use in warfare
2. Significant elephants which had auspicious characteristics.( But it was not necessary for then to have perfect physical characteristics ,as the elephants in the Gala- laksna textbook possess.)
3. The white elephant which had perfect characteristics as the elephants in the
Gala-Laksana (ancient books of wisdom)textbooks do.