SAYABOULY (LAOS), Feb 25 (TNA) – The annual Elephant
Festival is taking place in Sayabouly Province of Laos with a total of 70
elephants taking part in the event.
The annual festival is held to demonstrate culture and
traditional ties between Lao communities and elephants, as well as to raise people’s
awareness about the endangered status of elephants.
On the 13th edition of the festival this year, Thai people
from the northern Uttaradit province also join the activities.
A Thai delegation led by Uttaradit Governor Thanakorn
Ugjitpaisarn looked to strengthen ties between the two provinces of the
neighboring countries who share similar culture related to elephants. 
After an opening ceremony, a procession of 70 elephants and
cultural performance troupes took the street of Sayabouly
The highlight of the Festival is the traditional religious
ceremony in which Buddhist monks are blessing mahouts and their elephants.
(TNA)
