The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : No Chathurthi celebrations at Thepakkadu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 20, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

No Chathurthi celebrations at Thepakkadu

By Our Staff Reporter

A camp elephant at Thepakkadu in Mudumalai sanctuary, Udhagamandalam, being given special items on Vinayaga Chathurthi on Saturday.

UDHAGAMANDALAM, SEPT. 19. The usual celebration of Ganesh Chathurthi by camp elephants at Thepakkadu in the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary was absent on Saturday. However, the occasion was marked by offering of special poojas for the welfare of the pachyderms and their `mahouts and kavadis'.

The animals were given special food which included `pongal'. Normally on the Vinayaka Chathurthi day many people turn up at Thepakkadu to witness the elephants pay obeisance to an idol of Lord Ganesha (presiding deity of a small temple there) in a unique manner.

However, this year since the camp was closed and elephants shifted to Abhayaranyam and Bambax, the celebration had to be dispensed with.

According to the Wildlife Warden, Ashok Upreti, following the death of two trained elephants in quick succession in the camp, the remaining pachyderms were shifted a few months ago.

It was suspected that unhygienic conditions in the areas surrounding Thepakkadu led to the two elephants getting infected with maladies. Hence it had been decided to temporarily shift the campsite to places where there were less number of people.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu