The Elephant Festival is held in March. It appears to be a grand spectacle as the elephants walk down the road well decorated with bright colors, dazzling saddle cloth and heavy jewellery. This event takes place in the Chaugan Stadium of Jaipur. This event is organized on the full moon day of Phalgun Purnima which falls in the month of February/March. From the primordial times, elephants have always been an important part of the Indian society. The main events during this festival are a royal procession of caparisoned elephants, a match of elephant polo and playing elephant polo and playing with colors sitting on elephant back.
Celebration of the Elephant Festival
This festival starts with the huge and alluring parade of the royal elephants painted with different shades of colors, decorated with heavy silver ornaments, and embroidered clothes. This festival is enjoyed by a huge number of crowds including the visitors from different parts of India as well as abroad. This festival, organized by Rajasthan Tourism has now become an important part of annual events calendar.
The pageant of elephants presents a commendable sight to witness. It precedes the first festival of spring, Holi. The elephants are also trained to put up a variety of shows. Cultural programs are also part of the celebrations. Both locals and tourists are present in during this festival. In Rajasthan elephants have always been related to the royal families. They were used in the battlefields and served as the conveyance for kings and queens. Even today tourists can take a joy ride on the elephant backs.
Most of the elephants that take part in the ceremony are female elephants. The mahouts carefully decorate the foreheads, feet and trunks of the elephants with floral motifs. Trinkets arte also used to decorate the animals from tusk to tail. The female elephants are made to wear anklets. As they walk these ornaments make tinkling sound. Everything about this festival is grand. The highlight of the Elephant Festival is the polo game. Dressed in colorful turbans the two teams play on elephant back. Long sticks and a plastic football are used to play the game.
