With the mercury level on the rise, the management of Manakula Vinayagar Temple has implemented a ‘summer plan’ to enable its lone elephant Lakshmi to beat the scorching heat.
Lakshmi was donated to the temple as a 10-year-old when R.V. Janakiraman was the Chief Minister of Puducherry.
The animal is sheltered at Sri Vedapuriswarar Temple and comes to Manakula Vinayagar in the evening hours.
The enclosure of the pachyderam has been equipped with water sprinklers which are operated in the morning and afternoon. The sprinkling of water spray reduces the heat and keeps the animal cool. The mahouts ensure animal stays cool by paying special attention.
An average elephant can drink nearly 200 litres of water in a day and consume almost 100 kg of food.
Frequent shower
A.Senthilkumar, a mahout, said: “We are paying due attention to keep the animal cool in spite of the sweltering heat outside the premises.
“Fruits such as watermelon and muskmelon, citrus fruits such as orange and sweet lemon, and bananas and grapes are fed to the elephant to keep cool. Apart from that, the elephant is also bathed thrice a day.”
