Guruvayur (Kerala):
With the start of the Malayalam month of 'Karkittakam,' it is spa time for the over 60 elephants of the famous Sree Krishna temple to help them tune their bodies and minds for the tasks awaiting them in the year ahead.
During the 31-day long course, the jumbos are treated to a special menu, comprising nutritious grains, fruits and ayurvedic medicines, besides special bath and massage at the sprawling elephant park 'Punnathurkotta' on the outskirts of the temple town.
Under the supervision of temple veterinarian Dr Nambiar, a team of mahouts and assistants are busy from dawn, attending to the pachyderms, which are mostly put on temple duties like bearing the idol during rituals and processions.
Guruvayur temple has the single largest collection of 65 elephants at its disposal, most of them gifted to the presiding deity Lord Krishna by devotees, including leading
businessmen and politicians.
"The annual spa season also helps them remain gentle and majestic", elephant park superintendent B Mohan Kumar said.
The temple administration has set apart an average of Rs 10,000 for the treatment and made adequate provision of rice, pulses, jaggery and medicines for the course, he said.
The elephants are divided into three categories based on their body weight to decide the quantum of food and dose of medicine to be given them.
While 22 of them belong to 4,500-kg plus group, 34 weigh between 3,000 to 4,500 kg and
eight below 3,000 kg.
The day for the jumbos starts with an elaborate bath with mahouts massaging and rubbing their bodies with fibrous coconut husk, which is good for proper blood circulation.
They are then lined up and fed big rice balls, mixed with different kinds of pulses and jaggery.
This is followed by ayurvedic medicines and tonics like 'chyavanaprasam', 'ashtachoornam' and vitamin pills.
In between, the elephants will be fed sheaves of palm leaves and gallons of fresh water.
According to Mohan Kumar, the temple administration has set apart an average of Rs five crore to maintain elephants.
But the returns from them are about Rs two crore, mostly by way of rentals for sending to festivals in other temples.
Taking the cue from Guruvayur, many other temples have started the restorative treatment of jumbos.