How can you brand the regal ness of the Indian Maharajas? Who could have stand upfront to help these Kings to pose out their purple robes? And how it could have been possible for the Rajas and the Maharajas to boastfully flaunt their estates? The kingly royalty was so very nicely endorsed by these super stupendous gigantic creatures ~ ‘GAJRAJ – The Elephants’!!!!!

And ‘Oh- how-so-true’ it is, when you personally see them, as if these elephants still carry the finesse and poise, but have no air and graces tagged with them. Awesome but true that mammoth creatures were the royal carries during the Rajas and Mogul era in India.
They were the kind of ‘must-haves’ at that time. And why not… this animal had always given the required assistance, be it for the superior society or for the poor masses, be it in the war, horrifyingly participating for the Rajput Kings in the blood shedding going on, or being a part of the royal pageant of the Maharajas, where the Maharaja sat on a gold and silver throne secured on the back of the most liked elephant. Jaipur like a good host to the British Raj had arranged for the elephant rides for the guest of honour up to the Amber palace. Even today, these elephants carry the visitors to Amber Fort on their back.

India is the home to these Asiatic Elephant, they were so very important to the gods and kings here that in present it is worshipped as Lord Ganesha and is also associated with the Buddhism, and Jainism. Its body features truly contrast each other but still work the cohesiveness with its extra-super-big-size and its tiny, pea size cheerless eyes, or its majestic movements and its mild and meek behavior, or its long trailing trunk and the thin undernourished tail.

The time can never be sealed, it has its own course, and thus with the time this Regal Era of India died its own death, leaving behind these humongous animals to cope with their own kind of recession.

Rajasthan Tourism restored the good-old tradition to show off and celebrate the imperial richness of these elephants in the Indian history, simply displaying their enigmatic charm. Just 10 years old it is now a popular event between the tourist as well as the locals (it was devised especially with the tourist in mind). Each year the event is organized on the eve of Holi (this year its on 28/02/2010) venue is always the Chaugan Stadium in Jaipur. From this year, unlike the previous years, the celebration will witness new hues. The modified schedule will have on the spot elephant painting competition. As per the Director of tourism, “This year, five elephants would enter stadium from different entrances with their mahouts carrying a mashaal (torch). They would then congregate at the center to form a chaupar (four lines) and play Holi which would be a prelude to the fireworks.” Also five private bands have been invited which would play archetypal Holi music with drums etc. There would be a matka race for the tourists.

Starts at 4 pm in the evening the Elephants got to be the showstoppers. They walk with this graceful yet submissive attitude that I find it really, really cute. Their thick skin is brightly painted, showing the traditional graphics all over their body -like the tiger hunting scene, stars, lotus etc and its tiny eyes go blink-blink in between the paint-full backdrop…sooper cute!!! Everything from his forehead, to the feet, is decorated, ornamented, and embellished with heavily embroidered velvet throw on its back, the pom-pom, the anklet, you name it and you have it… really…

With all these fashion accessories they parade along with their other fashionable friends like camels, ox, horses, through the circumference of the stadium and then assemble in neat rows, as if this is what they have been doing all the time. Along with them march the folk dancers and performance artists…but you know the elephants steal the show. They greet the visitors, offer garlands to the guests and walk the ramp before a jury of experts and tourists so as to be selected as the best for the ‘Best decorated Elephant’ Shield! Speed has never been in the genes of these elephants, nor is it their acquired ability or attribute and their somber walk has never been a challenge for the polo ponies, and thus, witnessing a game of elephant polo, which is a newly introduced sport, is such a hilarious moment. Fun to watch the enormous pachyderms chasing the speedy football, trying to (in a way) help their mahouts as they also try, hit the ball with their polo stick.

You can laugh out loud on them, but they certainly will have the ball in their court… and the moment comes when you are asked to join hands with the people (more than 10) in the tug-of-war with the largest elephant. Who wins??? Do I need to answer that???? A’int that easy!!!!!

A unique ‘Gaj Shringar exhibition (Elephants Fashion Accessories) is a good thing to watch which exhibits everything connected with the elephant-ornaments, textiles, carriages, paintings, medicines and food.

Along the seam line of the event the program of Dhaph and Gair dance is performed exalting the spirit of Holi. Other folk dance dramas are also put up which is really a splendid treat. Among the dances Peacock Dance is really neat. Huge bunch of peacock feathers is tied at the back of the dancers and they perform the ‘mudras’ (Indian dance moves) beautifully.

Then there is the depiction of the ‘Krishna-Gopi Raslila’, which shows the naughtiness of Lord Krishna with the girls of his village, containing more of art of the Indian classical dance, it is sometime not properly understood. The evening always ends in a colorful note. The splash of dry colours mixes in the ambience of the place. The locals and the visitors and the tourist all play Holi and after some time you cannot spot who is local and who is the visitor. And this playing with colors is while taking an elephant ride ~ full on masti… the Indian way. While the event reaches its climax, you can see people happily applying colours, and happily allowing other to put colours, taking elephant rides, posing to have great pictures with the stars of the evening – The Elephants and a dazzling display of fireworks completing the day leaving unforgettable memories.

But I had this feeling deep down, that these magnificent, enormous beings that celebrated their royalty for a day, will go in the passiveness for a year, no more as the celebrities…I feel let them be celebrities for their life time. Their strength, and their humility give them such a charm. But man cannot kill his supremacy to rule over them, and till then such events are working as breathers.

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