In the southern province of Trang, an annual blessing ceremony was held for fourteen elephants. They were treated to fruits as well as other foods such as sugar cane, bananas, watermelons and pineapples. Animals were invited to the celebration to perform a blessing ritual to protect them from evil spirits. Over a hundred locals watched the action, and many of them also joined in the feast.
Elephant trainers believe that the blessing protects them from evil spirits and allows them to work in safety. One of the organizers of the ceremony, Hem Hemarat, is a local expert on tam kwan chang, an elephant blessing ritual that has been passed down from generation to generation in his family. He and his grandson Puttachat said the purpose of the ceremony is also to apologize to the elephants for having been forced to work over the past year.
Before the ceremony, the elephants were washed. During the ceremony, the trainers placed the elephants around Khem. A Buddhist monk consecrated the elephants and their controllers with holy water. Puttachat said the ceremony helps the elephants not to panic and feel more relaxed.
Like any pet, elephants need care and attention. This traditional ceremony is proof that people in Thailand respect wild animals and are willing to take care of them.
