Satpura Tiger Reserve elephants get seven-day break for Ganesh Utsav, to bathe in river and eat favourite food

Narmadapuram, Madhya Pradesh: Ganesh Utsav celebrations have reached the forests of Satpura Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh's Narmadapuram district, where all elephants deployed on forest patrol duty have been brought to a seven-day camp at Khareer in Kamti. The elephants will not be made to do any work for the duration of the camp. On the first day, they were bathed and adorned, and STR officials and staff performed a puja and aarti for them. Over the seven days, the elephants will be fed their favourite food and allowed to rest for the entire day.

The festival, being held at the Khareer camp from 14 to 20 September 2026 for the health, nutrition and overall welfare of the elephants, includes STR's elephants Pooja, Marissa, Priya, Anjugam and Gaja. All the elephants have been kept together at the site, with a designated standing and sitting spot marked out for each animal. Boards bearing each elephant's name and characteristics have been placed in front of them. With support from a wildlife health institute and forensic experts from Jabalpur, the elephants will undergo health check-ups, including measurement of length and height, along with dental trimming. Alongside the elephants, mahouts and fodder-cutters attending the camp will also have their health examined, and games and recreational activities are being organised. Kabaddi and tug-of-war competitions will be held at the close of the camp.

Hours of river bathing, followed by castor oil massage

On the first day of their seven-day break, mahouts gave the elephants a bath in the river lasting several hours. After coming out of the river, the mahouts massaged the elephants' entire bodies with castor oil, and their muscles were given a spa-like treatment. The elephants will be bathed in the river every day during the camp.

Multigrain flatbreads to go with seasonal produce

STR will be extending hospitality to the elephants taking part in the festival. They are being fed a full daily quota of sugarcane, maize and coconut, along with seasonal fruits such as banana, cucumber, watermelon and orange. In addition, large flatbreads made from nutritious multigrain flour are being served morning and evening, and jaggery has been included in their diet.

No work for elephants over seven days

Narmadapuram STR's Field Director, Rakhi Nanda, said that during the elephant festival, none of the elephants would be made to do any work for seven days. They will be fed seasonal fruits and bathed for hours at a stretch, while a team of doctors will conduct their health check-ups.