Considered to be sacred by the Hindus. They are also associated with Buddhism and Jainism. Indian mythology has a deep-rooted connection with this animal.
Ganesh, or the elephant-headed God, is revered and worshipped throughout the country as he is believed to be the remover of obstacles; also, the elephant is considered to be one of the Navratnas extracted during the Samudra Manthan.
To honor such an important component of our history, we have the Elephant Festival of Jaipur, where one can witness the finest blends of royalty and tradition.
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Rajasthan has been home to many royal figures of the past. During their reign, elephant fights would be conducted in order to entertain the royalty. Ever, since the festival was introduced, it has managed to attract many tourists and guests. In recent times, the venue was changed from Chauhan Stadium to Jaipur Polo Group grounds due to the increasing popularity.
The Expunction
In recent times, due to the pressure of the Animal Welfare group, the Rajasthan Tourism group was forced to cancel the festival for two consecutive years, 2012 and 2014. The members of the Welfare group were concerned about the safety of the elephants as they were sprayed with a chemical color.
They also concluded that the elephant procession fell under the category of Animal performance, which in turn needed the elephants to be registered with the Welfare group. The host group had failed to do so and, as a result, had to rename the festival as Holi festival.
The elephant festival is held on the occasion of Phalgun Purnima in February/March on the eve of the festival of colors, Holi.
Well-groomed and decorated with huge velvet rugs and parasols and other huge jewelry like anklets and bells, the elephants parade up and down proudly like a model cat walking across the stage to an applauding audience. The mahouts embellish them with intricate Indian motifs, ear danglers and colored brocade scarves to adorn their ears and necks. Their tusks and foreheads too get jewelled up. The mahouts too dress themselves up in shining brocade jackets and heavy turbans.
Timing, Date, and Location of Elephant Festival
Date: 13 March to 22 March, 2027
Time: Typically in the afternoon/evening (historically around 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM for main festivities).
Location: Jaipur Polo Ground, located opposite the Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur, Rajasthan (earlier held at Chaugan Stadium).
How is it Celebrated?
Different types of musical instruments like the nagadas and the bankiya are blown to announce the entry of the heavily gauded elephants assisted by their mahouts. The procession is then carried out by female elephants, which is enjoyed by a large crowd.
Elephant race, tug of war, elephant polo, and live performances of dancers and musicians are some of the special features of the Festival. The procession is also comprised of palanquins, chariots, and Lancers on horses and camels.
There are no signs of the Elephant Festival returning to Jaipur any sooner. However, a few service providers have taken up the legacy and provide an interesting fusion of Holi and Elephant Festival celebrations in Jaipur. The best of all is the Eleholi Fest.
This is a local celebration of Holi with Elephants, which is conducted closer to Amer Fort in Jaipur, inside Eleday Elephant Park. There are two types of packages in Eleholi Fest.
You can choose to enjoy Holi without the elephants and with music, dance, food, Indian games, and so on. This includes just feeding elephants. The cost for this package is around INR 1,500 per head.
Holi with Elephants
The most common package of Eleholi Fest is the one with elephants, where you can paint the elephants with colors (organic and harmless), bathe the animals, feed them, ride them, and so on. The activity includes all the activities that are covered under the Holi festival of Elepholi Fest, too. The cost for this package is a little more than INR 4,000 per head
This event has been conducted since 2011, and the team has 30 elephants, which were rescued. Now, numerous experienced mahouts are training them. Some of the elephants belong to the royal families too.
Apart from Eleholi, you can enjoy numerous other activities with elephants during Holi in Jaipur, like,
Visiting elephant parks like Elefantastic and others
Taking an elephant ride in Amer Fort for exploration
Cost for Elephant Festival in Jaipur
The elephant festival is free for everyone. There are no charges, and there are also no eligibility criteria. So, enjoy the festival without any cost.
If you want to enjoy the Elephant Festival, then pack your bags and travel with the Palace on Wheels Train Rajasthan, which is the famous luxury train in India. Fares of the Palace on Wheels train are cost-effective and based on the occupancy, such as Single or Double.
So, book the Palace on Wheels train and explore the various regions of Rajasthan along with the Elephant Festival.
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FAQs related to the Elephant Festival:
Q: When is the Elephant Festival celebrated in Jaipur?
A: Elephant Festival falls on Holi. In 2027, the Jaipur Elephant Festival falls from 13 March to 22 March, 2027.
Q: Why was the Elephant Festival celebrated in India?
A: Elephants were indicators of royalty and wealth. To celebrate this culture, Rajasthan celebrated the Elephant Festival in Jaipur. This also included animals like horses and camels.
Q: Where is the Elephant Festival celebrated in India?
A: The Elephant Festival was celebrated in Jaipur, Rajasthan until 2011.
Q: What are the other festivals of Rajasthan?
A: The other notable festivals of Rajasthan are Gangaur, Teej, Pushkar Fair, Nagaur Fair, Summer Festival, Winter Festival, Jaipur Literature Festival, and others.
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