THE FESTIVAL
The Elephant Festival is a unique event held
annually in Jaipur, the capital of the north
Indian state of Rajasthan. Groomed to
perfection, glittering in gold, row upon row of
elephants catwalk before an enthralled audience.
The elephants move gracefully in procession, run
races, play the regal game of polo, and finally
participate in the spring festival of Holi. It
is festival time for the elephants. |
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TIME OF THE
YEAR
This festival is celebrated on the day of Holi,
the Indian festival of colors.
CELEBRATIONS
There are deadly and fierce elephant fights in
the Jaipur Chaugan or polo field, the venue of
the Elephant Festival. During Holi, the Chaugan
is brought alive with elephants, dancers,
musicians, and onlookers from the entire globe.
The festival starts with an impressive
procession of the majestic animals lovingly
painted and tastefully attired with glittering
ornaments and embroidered velvets.
The echoing sound of the bankiya (trumpet) fills
the atmosphere. A ceremonial procession is
recreated with caparisoned elephants, lancers on
horses, chariots, camels, cannons, and
palanquins. The large beast is the center of
attraction in the many races and beauty
pageants.
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Strangely, most of the participants are female
elephants. The mahouts (elephant keepers) take
great care to decorate the elephants-painting
their trunks, foreheads, and feet with floral
motifs and adorning them from tusk to tail with
interesting trinkets. The mahouts were employed
in the Phil Khana, the department of elephant in
the royal administration. They played an
important role until the princely state was
incorporated into the Union and the department
because redundant. They, however, have continued
their association with the elephants.
The game of polo forms the highlight of the
festival. Dressed in saffron and red turbans,
the teams try to score goals with long sticks
and a plastic football.
Finally, the tourists are invited to mount the
elephants and play Holi. Participants dance with
great vigor-the excitement rising to a
crescendo.
HISTORY
The Jataka stories of Buddhism refer to the
tradition of Hastimangala (the Elephant
Festival). A royal mount from time immemorial,
the elephant has also been a symbol of strength
and wealth. For the Rajput kings, the elephants
were of especial significance not only during
war but also during the royal festivities-a must
at royal pageant. Nishan-ka-hathi, the flag
carrier, led the procession. The king always
mounted a caparisoned elephant. Special hunting
programs and elephant fights were organized to
entertain the royal guests. Jaipur was a
favorite with the important personalities of the
British Raj and the Maharajas always arranged
for their guests of honor elephant rides up to
the Amber palace. Even today, the mahouts take
tourists up to the Amber Palace on elephant
back.
Rajasthan
Tourism revived the tradition by including the
Elephant Festival in the cultural calendar. The
present-day pageant, originated only a decade ago,
was devised especially with the tourist in mind.
The inclusion of the game of polo is more recent,
being inspired by a cartoon in Punch magazine that
showed the Indian polo team atop an elephant after
it won all the international tournaments. Every
year on the day after Holi, the old stadium at
Jaipur, the Chaugan (originally planned for
elephants), forms the venue for a spectacular
jamboree.
PLACES
TO VISIT
The elephant festival is the specialty of the
state of Rajasthan. Like the Desert Festival of
Jaisalmer, the Elephant Festival of Jaipur has
become a major draw for the tourists. Given the
importance of the elephant in the socio-cultural
milieu of the state of Rajasthan, tourists can
rest assured that they are in for some great
Indian festivities and fun in Jaipur.
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Indian Fair
& Festivals
Taj
Mahotsav
/
Desert
Fair
/
Suraj
Kund Mela
/
Gangaur
Festival
/
Pushkar
Fair
/
Elephant
Fair
/
International
Kite Festival
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