Jaipur’s “elephant village” marked World Elephant Day on Aug 12 with a colourful celebration featuring 15 decked-up pachyderms, a fashion parade, and even cake.
Rajasthan’s Social Justice Minister Avinash Gehlot attended as the elephants, adorned with silver ornaments, paraded on a red carpet and enjoyed a feast of fruits, jaggery, cucumber, and sugarcane.
Star attractions included Parvati and Chanda, who have greeted dignitaries like United States Vice-President JD Vance, and birthday girl Junali, who turned 18.
The village, home to 75 elephants, provides spacious stalls, a bathing pond, and bi-annual health checks, with the state government subsidising their care.
