Brilliant Elephant Festival Grand finale at Uthralikkavu Temple in Kerala, India

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Hello. What a splendid video. Elephants! So delightful!

[@DaliwolfBacon]

6AM fireworks??? These people know how to party! :) How many years have these folks been celebrating the Elephant festival? The Elephants seem very content and healthy. Having grown up Christian with very little exposure to other religions or culture, this seems so foreign to me...BUT...not in a bad way. In a curious way. :) Thanks for sharing!

[@SheilaSimkin]

The party went on not only all night but for several days! This elephant festival takes places every year, at the same time each year. Thanks for watching and your insightful comment. You are right. We know so little about how other religions worship and celebrate. Best, Sheila

[@anoopkl4u]

It's been going on for centuries

[@gimmmehope]

A 20-year-old elephant named Chitillapilly Rajashekaran has been allegedly beaten to death and his body transported to another district in order to cover up the torture and wounds. This young elephant had just emerged from his musth -- an annual cycle when the bulls are in heat. When they enter into their musth their testosterone and energy level surge. They're overwhelmed by the urge to mate. The cycle lasts for 3-4 months. The shackles are tightened severely to restrain them, as the elephants tend to become dominant during this time. In the wild the bulls wander for hours on end, finding mates and fighting with bulls. Whereas in captivity they become frustrated and aggressive as they're unable to release their energies. So these elephants are deprived of food and water, in order to make them weak and submissive. But after they emerge from their musth these innocent animals must still undergo the cruelest of rituals that defy all holy books. It's a secret tradition that involves seven or eight drunk men beating the living day lights out of this animal for 48-72 hours. It's called Katti Adikkal, part of unchaining the bulls that emerge from their musth. The practice is based on a superstitious belief that the elephants may have forgotten their commands during their musth. It's a horrifying ritual designed to break the elephant's spirit and remind them that their masters are in control. All bull elephants in Kerala have to undergo this cruel practice every single year. In an email report, the Heritage Animal Task Force (HATF) Secretary Mr. Venkitachalam said m.huffingtonpost.ca/sangita-iyer/elephant-dies-in-kerala_b_9184522.html

[@ballswillbebusted]

And now I have learned one more horrific and despicable action these poor elephants are subjected to. My god, the insanity of it all. On one hand it is said we worship these animals and love them, and then at the same time we beat them to death. I think there seems to be a huge disconnect of what loving an animal means. Absolutely sickening!