Elephants have been managed in captivity in the country for a long time. Elephants have been captured from the wild using different techniques depending on the countries or regions. Traditional methods like Khedda, pit method, etc. are recently replaced with chemical capture. The captured elephants are trained traditionally with the help of kumkis and kraal. Changes have been proposed and implemented in training also. In Kerala, it has become the symbol of culture, being used in temples for a quite long time. One of the traditional uses of elephants in Kerala is the one associated with temples. Of late, this has become a part of all the festivals including those in churches and mosques. There are historical details about elephants in festivals. Elephants are beautifully decorated while taken for festivals and this varies depending on the context. It is also possible that this varies according to regions in the state. There are also other fineries used in addition to the headgear (nettipaatom). Elephant’s association with the human beings and its use for different purposes has been the subject of literature. Historical aspects of the cultural relationship with elephants could be seen in literature as well. Elephant management in captivity also involves management of health. The historic Hastyayurveda and Matangaleela and the modern methods of treatment are followed by different practitioners. These are currently supported by modern diagnostic methods. Different aspects of the natural and cultural life of elephants, including their capture, training, health and medicine, their role in festivals and the rich tradition of elephant finery associated with these festivals is presented through articles, interviews and images.
