The elephant keepers

Dawn.com Published February 7, 2012
Elephant are bathed by mahouts at a public park in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Some 50 elephants, mostly from the central part of the island, together with thousands of traditional drummers, dancers, and monks gathered in the Sri Lankan capital to participate in the city's biggest two-day annual Buddhist procession. ? AFP Photo
Elephant are bathed by mahouts at a public park in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Some 50 elephants, mostly from the central part of the island, together with thousands of traditional drummers, dancers, and monks gathered in the Sri Lankan capital to participate in the city's biggest two-day annual Buddhist procession. ? AFP Photo
Onlookers gather to watch an elephant bathed by his mahout at a public park in Colombo, Sri Lanka. ? AFP Photo
Onlookers gather to watch an elephant bathed by his mahout at a public park in Colombo, Sri Lanka. ? AFP Photo
Mahouts wash their elephants ahead of Nawam poya Perahera at Viharamahadevi Park, in Colombo. The Perahera festival commemorates the full moon day of Navam Poya, significant to Sri Lankan Buddhists as the first ever Buddhist Council was held on the same day. ? Reuters Photo
Mahouts wash their elephants ahead of Nawam poya Perahera at Viharamahadevi Park, in Colombo. The Perahera festival commemorates the full moon day of Navam Poya, significant to Sri Lankan Buddhists as the first ever Buddhist Council was held on the same day. ? Reuters Photo
A tamed elephant puts its trunk into a water pipe at a public park in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Hundreds of traditional dancers, drummers, decorated elephants and monks take part in the annual Buddhist procession. ? AP Photo
A tamed elephant puts its trunk into a water pipe at a public park in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Hundreds of traditional dancers, drummers, decorated elephants and monks take part in the annual Buddhist procession. ? AP Photo
A tamed elephant brought for an annual Buddhist procession turns towards a group of Sri Lankans at a public park in Colombo, Sri Lanka. ? AP Photo
A tamed elephant brought for an annual Buddhist procession turns towards a group of Sri Lankans at a public park in Colombo, Sri Lanka. ? AP Photo
A mahout carries bells to hang on elephants ahead of Nawam poya Perahera at Viharamahadevi Park, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. ? Reuters Photo
A mahout carries bells to hang on elephants ahead of Nawam poya Perahera at Viharamahadevi Park, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. ? Reuters Photo
An elephant grabs a bunch of bananas offered by a Buddhist monk in Gangarama Temple in Colombo. ? AFP Photo
An elephant grabs a bunch of bananas offered by a Buddhist monk in Gangarama Temple in Colombo. ? AFP Photo
An Indian mahout washes an elephant from the Lord Jagannathji Temple in Ahmedabad. Elephants are washed daily and kept in a clean and natural environment to keep them healthy and physically fit. ? AFP Photo
An Indian mahout washes an elephant from the Lord Jagannathji Temple in Ahmedabad. Elephants are washed daily and kept in a clean and natural environment to keep them healthy and physically fit. ? AFP Photo
Indian mahouts wash an elephant from the Lord Jagannathji Temple in Ahmedabad. ? AFP Photo
Indian mahouts wash an elephant from the Lord Jagannathji Temple in Ahmedabad. ? AFP Photo
A caparisoned elephant is seen during an annual temple festival in the southern Indian city of Kochi. The festival features a colourful procession of decorated elephants and drum concerts. ? Reuters Photo
A caparisoned elephant is seen during an annual temple festival in the southern Indian city of Kochi. The festival features a colourful procession of decorated elephants and drum concerts. ? Reuters Photo
Mahouts, or elephant drivers, sit in a shadow casted by their elephants who are participating during an annual temple festival in the southern Indian city of Kochi. ? Reuters Photo
Mahouts, or elephant drivers, sit in a shadow casted by their elephants who are participating during an annual temple festival in the southern Indian city of Kochi. ? Reuters Photo

Asian elephants are commonly domesticated and used for religious ceremonies and processions in certain parts of Asia. The art of training elephants has evolved into a family profession, with knowledge being handed down from one generation to the next.

Here is a gallery featuring “mahouts”, or elephant drivers, who are preparing their charges for a Sri Lankan Buddhist festival and a Hindi temple festival. – Photos by Agencies

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