Abstract:
Captive Asian el Elephants are play a very significant role on the cultural
and religious lives of people in Kerala. As Kerala's State animal, the
elephant is portrayed in the official emblem of Government of Kerala and
various other Governmental and non-governmental agencies. Elephants
are immensely featured in the various religious mythologies and local
legends across Kerala. Almost all local festivals in Kerala display
enormously decorated elephants and processions and important religious
ceremonies are considered incomplete without the presence of
auspicious elephants. Many Hindu temples in Kerala own elephants and
the Guruvayoor temple in Thrissur district now cares for 59 captive
elephants. Thrissur pooram is the most popular temple elephant festival
in southern India, which typically display role of elephants and traditions
of Kerala.
