Elephant Festival - Celebrating the Royalty

Men in  its history, have deployed many a means for their transport, some mechanized and some driven by animals. Man had rode on Horses, mules, camels and have employed bulls and even dogs to pull their vehicle and help them move, but when it comes to Elephant, it instantly exuberate royalty. One of the most difficult animals to rear and maintain and although not as swift as others,  its sheer size makes its rider feel on the top of world and powerful. 

The camel is the most visible symbol of Rajasthan, however when it comes to Rajput royalty, the elephant wins hands down. Elephants have always been a carrier of royalty in Indian culture, and to celebrate the association and beauty of this beast,  Rajasthan  - a princely state associated with abundance of  royalties initiated THE ELEPHANT FESTIVAL, to be celebrated in the Pink city of Jaipur. 

So, while Bikaner ,Jaisalmer and Pushkar celebrates the Ship of the Desert through their respective cattle fairs ,Jaipur scores it points by celebrating the symbol of Royalty The elephant. The Elephant festival is organised every year by the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation, just a day prior to the festival of Colors Holi ( Dhulandi), making it even more interesting. The Elephant Festival is held at its official venue, Rambagh Polo Ground in Jaipur, and attracts thousands of eager tourists from across India and overseas. 

The festival usually starts at around 1500 hrs and lasts for about 03 hrs, where apart from the Elephants, human folk artists and guests to participate, creating an atmosphere of joyous celebration of life, which culminates into the festival of colors - Holi , which is celebrated with vigour, the very next day. There is no entrance charges/ tickets to witness the festival and all are welcome to participate and witness this magnificent festival. 

The festival starts with the traditional procession of the richly decorated and caparisoned elephants , accompanied by the folk musician and dancers, who march along , while the dancers in their bright colored clothes displays their rich moves spreading a flurry of colors, the melodious folk music blend perfectly with the background, setting your mood for enjoyment. You would have rarely seen the monotonously colored black elephants in such a rich colorful avatar. The procession is followed by best decorated Elephant competition. Elephants, like beauty queens of a pageant walks on the ground displaying their makeup. Elephants are richly decorated with the application of vibrant colors on their body in different motives, their golden and silver caparison perfectly blending with the cloths , trinkets and jewellery they adorn in their neck, trunks and tusks, giving them the most beautiful look. The most innovatively and beautifully decorated Elephant is adjudged the winner and offered a prize. 

You will then see the prowess of an Elephant as it swiftly moves covering the vast Polo Ground, while a match of Elephant Polo is played. The players wear saffron and red turbans, sit on the elephants, and try to score goals with long sticks and a plastic football. Only female elephants take part in this festival. Elephant Polo is followed by a race between the Elephants. 

Visitors and tourists also get to test their strength when tourist (mostly foreigners- on account of extending courtesy to the guest an integral part of India culture) picked from the audience get to participate in the tug of war with the elephant. Since years ,there is always one winner, every year however the visitors do hope to reverse the obvious result.