The image shows the decorated temple elephant at the Kamatchi temple Kanchipuram of Tamilnadu state.

The processions of richly caparisoned elephants

Elephants are part and parcel of temple ceremonies and festivals in India (particularly South India). A large number of major temples own elephants. The rest hire/ get donated the elephants during the festive seasons. It’s estimated that India has an elephant population of about 18,000. Out of this about 550 or so are domesticated elephants that live in Kerala, the southern Indian state. Kanchipuram temple, engraved in 1811. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... Image File history File links Pooram. ... Image File history File links Pooram. ... Genera and Species Loxodonta Loxodonta cyclotis Loxodonta africana Elephas Elephas maximus Proboscidea is an order including only one extant family, Elephantidae or the elephants, with three species: the Savannah Elephant and Forest Elephant (which were collectively known as the African Elephant), and the Asian Elephant (formerly known as the Indian... A map of Southern India, its rivers, regions and water bodies. ... Kerala (IPA: ; Malayalam: കേരളം — Keralam) is a state on the southwestern tropical Malabar Coast of India. ...

The largest elephant farm in India is located in Guruvayoor in Kerala. This farm attached to the main temple in Guruvayoor has about four-dozen domesticated elephants. Guruvayoor Temple Entrance Guruvayoor is a small town in the Trissur district of Kerala, south India. ...

Gallery on elephants

The elephant named Lakshmi blesses a devotee. (a smooch on the head!). The elephant belongs to the Virupaksha temple in Hampi, Karnataka. Virupaksha Temple Hampi (ಹ೦ಪೆ, Hampe in Kannada) is a village in southern Karnataka, India. ... Karnataka or Karnātakā (ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ in Kannada) is one of the four southern states of India. ...	The temple elephant carries the idol of the Lord of Virupaxa. The procession goes around to receive the offerings from the devotees. Location Hampi, Karnataka. Virupaksha Temple Hampi (ಹ೦ಪೆ, Hampe in Kannada) is a village in southern Karnataka, India. ... Karnataka or Karnātakā (ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ in Kannada) is one of the four southern states of India. ...	The colored umbrellas and peacock quill decorated fans used with caparisoned elephants.	A temple elephant getting bathed by the mahout . A mahout is a person who drives an elephant. ...
A temple elephant (royal elephant) during the ceremony inside the Mysore palace temple premises. Location Mysore, Karnataka. Mysore (Kannada: ಮೈಸೂರು) is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. ... Karnataka or Karnātakā (ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ in Kannada) is one of the four southern states of India. ...

See also

• Elephants of Kerala
• The processions of richly caparisoned elephants
• Thrissur Pooram
• Guruvayoor
• Guruvayoor Temple
• Animal worship
• Elephant