Chronicle Reporter, Bhopal,
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh is famous for tigers, but these days an elephant festival has been organized here. Elephants are having fun in the 7-day festival. Forest department officials said that during the festival all the elephants are not being gathered and made to do any work. After bathing them in the morning, applying sandalwood paste, massaging with oil and applying vermilion, they are being fed their favorite food. Apart from selected fruits, coconut, jaggery, sugarcane and banana-apple mixed with honey are served. According to the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve management, these elephants work throughout the year, but for these seven days they have been given complete leave. In such a situation, now they have only one job to do, that is to eat, drink and have fun. Elephant Festival is celebrated every year in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. During this time, a large number of tourists and local people come and get their photos taken with the elephants. However, this time no outsider is seen. AActually, the park management has kept the common people away from the Gaj Mahotsav this time.
