SURIN, Nov 15 (TNA) – Thailand’s largest elephant festival has opened its door for tourists to celebrate relationship between the
pachyderms and humans in Surin province, northeastern Thailand.
Surin Elephant Round-Up, which was first organized in the
1960’s, returns this year with new shows and attractions by new faces among
organizers including the Chamber of Commerce and Women and Children Development
Association of Surin.
After the official opening ceremony Wednesday, visitors are
promised activities-filled festival until November 25.
Seven elephant calves, including a pair of twins, will put
on special “Mini Show” every night.
On Friday and Saturday, there will be Welcome & Elephant
Feeding Party for people to have close encounters with the jumbos.
The main highlight is Elephant Round-Up grand shows on the
weekend which will feature 160 elephants and 2,000 performers in nine-act
performance depicting the lives of elephant mahouts and the significant roles
of elephant throughout the history of Thailand.
Locals, school students and tourists have been allowed to
watch rehearsals for free.
Many are waiting for an elephant feast on Friday when over
100 hundred jumbos get special treat, feeding on 30 tons of fruits on
700-meter-long table.
Since 1962, the elephant fair of Surin has been a national
festival celebrating the tradition of elephant handling of an ethnic group of
Surin and conservation of Thai elephants.(TNA)
