Faces of India – 262 Mahout with Elephant in Sringeri

Mahout with Elephant in Sringeri

He is a mahout in Sringeri, a mutt of Adi Shankaracharya. The temple has 2 elephants and a bull. Pilgrims visiting this temple rush to get blessed by the elephants and offer food and coins to the elephant. The mahout standing close to the elephants makes the pilgrims brave enough to bow their head in reverence to the elephant. The elephant on his part places the trunk on the devotees’ head as a gesture of blessing.

Mahouts are made responsible about everything related to the elephants. Some of the recommendations agreed upon by mahouts as practically possible:

  • Make elephant walk on mud tracks, wherever possible
  • Not to let the animal stand in one place for many hours
  • Vary activity to alleviate boredom
  • To control types of food given

I will forever be deprived of this blessing because I have no courage to bow to this giant how much ever gentle he may seem to be. What about you?

Faces of India,

Faces of India is a series through which I intend to portray the various characters of my country whom I met during my travels. I bring back souvenirs, frozen moments from my travels, why not some memories of people I have met and interacted during the travels. Faces of India is a weekly series in my blog since MARCH 2011. See more here

Mahout with Elephant in Sringeri

Mahout with Elephant in Sringeri

 

 

Wordless Wednesday - 375
Wordless Wednesday - 374

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