0 of 7
Held in high esteem, elephants have played an outsize role in India’s history and culture.
Elephants once carried soldiers into battle. Now grooms ride them in splendid wedding processions.
The elephants are decorated with the same kinds of pigments that are used during Holi, the Hindu festival in which celebrants splash each other with bright colours.
Ankus (elephant goads) are one of eight auspicious objects in Hinduism.
- Painted Elephants pictures are from the August issue of National Geographic magazine.
Maharajas once carried jeweled ankus as emblems of their power. These days mahouts use wooden sticks to control the elephants, since the sharp hook of the ankus has been outlawed.