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Impressive elephant pageantry is
an important part of the famous festivals of Kerala. Pachyderms are considered
auspicious in the State. Elephants have an important role in the cultural life
of Kerala. There is hardly any place in the world where elephants are loved,
revered and groomed like Kerala. Several temples in Kerala groom one or more
elephants for ritualistic purposes
In olden times a ‘pet elephant’
was quite common in aristocratic families. Since elephants are inevitable for
the festivals of Kerala, tamed ones are reared at several temples. In major
temples pachyderms are also needed for some daily rituals
Elephants are titled in Kerala as
the State animal and treated with much respect.
The
Guruvayoor temple in the Thrissur district of Kerala runs
an elephant sanctuary where elephants donated to the temple by devotees are
housed. Punnathoorkotta,
the centre, attracts large number of pachyderm lovers and tourists
Travellers to Kerala can also
visit Kodanand and, two villages where baby elephants are domesticated

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