India Incredible

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For the past two days I have read and watched truly disturbing things about how elephants are treated in the circus.  Not that any animal abuse in the circus (or anywhere else) is acceptable, but their treatment of elephants in particular makes my stomach turn.  I have always viewed them as majestic, beautiful creatures and why anyone would disrespect them, or any animal, is beyond anything I can comprehend.  So here’s some information about how and why Hindus worship elephants… I needed to read it to ease my mind. :) 

Elephant Festivals in India

Hindus celebrate elephant festivals in order to pay homage to the elephants or to Ganapati (Ganesha), the Hindu god that has the head of an elephant. The traditional elephant festival happens in March in the city of Jaipur, it is a procession of beautifully adorned female elephants that attracts tourists from all over the globe.

The Ganesh festival happens between August and September and lasts ten days. Although this festival is celebrated in many different cities, Maharashtra is known for its festivities. During the celebrations, many images of Ganesh are made so that people can buy them and keep them in their houses for ten days, when finally they take the images to the river. This is a very beautiful ceremony.”

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