Thursday, September 18, 2008

ELEPHANTS OF KERALAM



Since time immemorial, elephants have been an integral part of the daily life in Kerala - a southern tropical state in India. These huge mammals have been loved, revered, groomed and given a prestigious place in the state's culturescape.

Elephants have been an integral part of cultural Kerala from time immemorial. These huge mammals have always been loved, revered, groomed and given a prestigious place in the state's culturescape.

Most joint families in the past owned elephants and their increasing number was considered a symbol of the family's status. But today only a handful of families own an elephant. The rest have entrusted these treasured possessions to the Devaswoms or temple managements owing to the degeneration of the joint family system and the rising cost of maintaining elephants.

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