Jumbo chathurthi at Topslip

Forest officials said the elephants enjoyed a river bath before they were decorated and taken to the temple at the camp. Elephants were lined up before the pooja and jumbo Krishna sounded the bell.

Forest officials said that except a few, almost all the elephants took part in the celebrations. A 11-month-old calf from Krishnagiri that was brought to the camp last month did not take part as veterinarians felt that it could contract infections.

MTR Field Director Srinivas R Reddy and Deputy Director VA Saravanan were present during the events. Of the more than 20 jumbos in the Kolikamuthi elephant camp of the Forest Department at Topslip, in Coimbatore district, six of them participated in the special pooja performed at the temple below a tree close to the camp