Elephant Festival

Elephant Festival is a festival celebrated in Jaipur city in Rajasthan state in India. It is held on the day of Holi festival, usually in the month of March. The festival features Elephant polo and Elephant Dance. The Elephant Festival begins with a beautiful procession of bedecked elephants, camels, horses and folk dancers. The owners proudly embellish their elephants with vibrant colours, jhools (saddle cloth) and heavy jewellery. It is quite a treat to see female elephants wearing anklets, which tinkle as they walk. One can see people sprinkling 'gulaal' (coloured powder) perched on top of the elephant. The most beautifully decorated elephant is awarded. Elephant polo, Elephant race, the tug-of-war between Elephants and 19 men and women are the featured events of the festival. The elephants are also outfitted in ear danglers and brocade scarves to embellish their ears and necks. The Mahouts, who are known as the caretakers of the elephants, decorate the foreheads of the animals with head-plates as well as garnish their tusks with gold, silver bracelets and rings. Other events that take place during the festival include a polo match and a tug of war contest, where the strongest elephant is chosen to compete against a group of ten people.

Although the festival is primarily based on elephants, other animals such as camels and horses also participate in the elephant festival.

History

The Elephant Festival is considered one of the most popular and celebrated events in the city of Jaipur. Since the festival was introduced, the ceremony has managed to attract a variety of outsiders to the festive event. Elephants symbolize royalty according to the traditions of Rajasthan. The Elephant is also believed to be associated with [Buddhism] and [Jainism]. In fact, the elephant itself has a historical significance in Indian traditions. According to Indian Mythology, gods and the demons stirred the ocean, in the hopes that they would become eternal. Suddenly, nine jewels also known as the “navratnas” surfaced from the ocean. Of the nine jewels that reappeared, one of them was an elephant. Since then, the elephant has been regarded as a precious animal.

The state of Rajasthan was a popular destination for many royal figures as the kings and princes of those times would take elephant rides to the Amber Palace of Rajasthan. During the [monarchy], India’s royalty would hold events where the strongest elephants would fight each other to entertain the royal guests. Nowadays, the festival is organized every year by the Rajasthan tourism group in the Chaugan Stadium. The venue was relocated to the Jaipur Polo Group grounds due to the festival’s increasing popularity.

Controversy

For its first time in many years, the elephant festival was cancelled for two consecutive years, 2012 and 2014, due to protest from the Animal Welfare Board. The animal activists were concerned about the chemical-laced colour being mocked down on the elephants and feared that the elephants would be harmed in the process. The Rajasthan tourism group, which hosts the festival every year failed to sign up the elephants with the Animal Welfare Board, and provide appropriate documents. As a result of this, the organizers decided to rename it as the “Holi Festival.” The Tourism Department’s decision to cancel came in the wake of protests by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

References
  1. V. Srinivasan, Amrutur (8 July 2011). Hinduism For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 249. ISBN 978-0470878583.
  2. "Elephant Festival". jaipur.org.uk. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  3. "Elephant Festival". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  4. "Elephant Festival 2014". Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  5. "Elephant Festival of Jaipur". Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  6. "Fairs & Festivals in India - Elephant Festival". Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  7. "Elephant Festival Cancelled". Times of India. March 15, 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  8. "Rajasthan Cancels Elephant Festival". The Hindu. March 27, 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  9. "Charles Freger: Painted Elephants". Sgustok Magazine. September 2, 2015.
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