It was a happy Pongal for temple and mutt elephants too at Thekkampatti near Mettupalayam on Monday, where the animals are undergoing the annual rejuvenation at a camp.
Officials from the Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE), Forest Department, veterinarians, mahouts, helpers and the public took part in the celebrations.
The celebrations started with a puja at the Vinayagar temple on the banks of the Bhavani for which 33 elephants attending the rejuvenation programme were lined up.
Forest officials at Anamalai Tiger Reserve said Pongal celebrations were held for 23 kumki elephants at Topslip in the morning.
Captive elephants at the Theppakadu Elephant Camp in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) were treated to pongal, jaggery, sugarcane and nutrient-rich food.
