Elephants have always held an important place in the Indian society, Lord Ganesha , the Hindu deity with the head of an elephant is greatly revered and is the lord master of all ceremonies and happy beginnings. Elephants are part of many major religious ceremonies, processions and even marriage ceremonies, all primarily ceremonial roles as the era of the war elephant is now long over.
The Elephant Festival is an annual event held every year at Jaipur the capital city of Rajasthan. The Elephant Festival Jaipur is organised according to the Indian calendar on the full moon day of Phalgun Purnima (February/March),The Jaipur Elephant festival is organized by Rajasthan Tourism and is now a part of its annual event’s calendar. Earlier the Elephant Festival was organized at the Chaugan Stadium in the walled old city area of Jaipur however due to the increased popularity of the event and the large crowds it attracts now the venue since 2011 has been shifted to the Jaipur Polo grounds near the Rambagh Hotel opposite the Sawai Man Singh Stadium
The Elephant Festival is an annual event held every year at Jaipur the capital city of Rajasthan. The Elephant Festival Jaipur is organised according to the Indian calendar on the full moon day of Phalgun Purnima (February/March),The Jaipur Elephant festival is organized by Rajasthan Tourism and is now a part of its annual event’s calendar. Earlier the Elephant Festival was organized at the Chaugan Stadium in the walled old city area of Jaipur however due to the increased popularity of the event and the large crowds it attracts now the venue since 2011 has been shifted to the Jaipur Polo grounds near the Rambagh Hotel opposite the Sawai Man Singh Stadium
As the name suggests elephants are the centre of attraction at the Elephant Festival Jaipur. Elephants are specially decorated for the elephant festival, with chunky elephant jewellery, large anklets decked with bells grace their feet, their bodies are painted with traditional Indian motifs, gold embroidered velvet rugs grace their backs along with silver and gold plated Howdahs and gold embroidered velvet parasol’s . The large ears of the elephants are adorned with ear danglers and brightly coloured brocade scarfs. Even their tusks are ringed with gold and silver bracelets and rings. Richly embellished head-plates adorn the Elephants foreheads. The mahouts are also all dressed up in their brocade jackets and bright coloured Safa’s or turbans. At the Jaipur Elephant festival there is a prize for the best decorated Elephant and its Mahout.
The Elephant Festival Jaipur offers the perfect opportunity to see these royal and regal creatures in all their splendor as they parade before you to the beating of the Nagara and the blowing of the Bankiya, followed by rows of decked up camels, horses with lanced Riders, Horse drawn chariots, cannon carts and porters carrying palanquins followed by performances of the folk dancers all creating a scene cent of the past and celebrating the Majesty of the Elephant and the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan. .
At the Elephant Festival the elephants participate in number of events like races, Elephant Polo matches, tug-of-war and also play Holi. The spotlight of the Elephant Festival Jaipur is the game of Elephant Polo a modern day adaption of traditional game of Horse Polo. Elephant Polo players are dressed in saffron and red turbans and try to score goals with long handled modified Polo sticks and a plastic football for their respective teams. The event culminates when visiting tourists are invited to mount the elephants and play Holi.
• The next Elephant Festival at Jaipur is scheduled to be held on 07th March 2012
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