During monsoons, Kerala elephants get spoilt silly

ROYAL TREATMENT: Monsoon is a time for annual ayurvedic rejuvenation therapy for the elephants.

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Guruvayur (Kerala): As the rain Gods come smiling, the elephants of Kerala are having the best time of their lives. It is also time for their annual ayurvedic rejuvenation therapy.

Guruvayur Padmanabhan, the main elephant at the Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple, Padmanabhan has had a busy year taking part in numerous temple processions.

But now it is time for him to relax, unwind and be pampered. And joining him will be 50 fellow inmates of Aanakotta, or elephant fort, in the temple town.

Says vetinerary doctor, Dr TCR Nambiar, “During the festival season in summer, the elephants become weak. So in order to restore its health we are doing this 30 days restoring treatment. Rainy season is the best time for this rejuvenation treatment. Cold climate is the best time for the treatment.”

So whats this rejuvenation therapy all about?

In the morning, the elephants are given leaves of medicinal plants. Next comes a long, luxurious bath. And at noon, they are given a feast of meticulously prepared food, mixed with Ayurvedic medicines.

The mahouts have an important task in preparing the jumbos for the rigours of the coming year.

“You cannot love the animal too much and spoil him. At the same time if you have a right to make him listen to what you say, you need to take care of him also. During this one month we go all the way out to make him feel comfortable and make him regain his health,” says Padmanabhan's mahout, Radhakrishnan.

The therapy is doubly important, as incidents of overworked elephants turning on their mahouts have increased in the past few years.

So after 11 months of hard work, these elephants are finally taking some time out.