(IN)Elephants earn a rest in Kerala

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It's rest and rejuvenation month for Kerala's elephants

 

By Juhan Samuel

 

 

Thrissur, Kerala, July 18: Come monsoon and elephants in Kerala are provided

with rest and rejuvenation therapy to enhance the well being of these

beasts.

 

The Vadakkunathan Temple at Thrissur gives a rest to its herd of elephants

from their daily chores with a month-long restorative treatment called

Aanayoottu.

 

Aanayoottu literally means feeding the elephants with specially prepared

food, which is valued for its high medicinal value. This medicinal

concoction is regarded as vital for enhancing the well being of elephants.

 

At this ceremony, around 45 elephants, small and large ones, are lined up on

the first day of the Malayalam month of Karkidakam, which started on Tuesday

and lasts till August 16.

 

Sasi Kumar, a mahout, said: " Every year, this event is conducted in this

temple during the Karkidakam month. It is a very good thing to keep our

elephants healthy thoughtout the period. "

 

The medication will continue for the next 15-20 days for each of the

pachyderms, depending on its health condition and weight.

 

The medicated mixture given to elephants comprises cooked rice with ghee,

wheat flour, powdered black gram, palm jaggery and herbal powders.

 

The formulation is administered to the animals to protect and improve their

health during the monsoon months when they are not taken for any temple

processions, and are provided with full rest.

 

" We see it as an offering to God Ganesha which helps to remove all their

problems and protect them from monsoon-related aliments, " C G Ravi, the

President of Cochin

<http://www.dailyindia.com/newsc/india/cochin.php>Devason Board, said.

 

The therapy will be extended to the rest of the temple elephants in the

district soon.

 

According to unofficial records, in Kerala alone, there are around 900

captive elephants.

 

A large number of devotees and villagers gather at the temple to witness the

therapy.

 

 

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