A video circulating online has charmed viewers worldwide, showcasing an elephant’s joyous birthday celebration in Tamil Nadu. The heartwarming clip captures the elephant, named Akhila, reveling in the festivities as the community showers it with love and affection.
The video begins with Akhila, adorned in brightly colored ornaments, swaying gently to the rhythm of the celebrations. The decorations, which include clothes, garlands, and a tilak on its forehead, signify the deep respect and blessings from the community. The elephant’s gentle movements create a melodic jingle, adding to the festive atmosphere.
In India, they celebrate their elephant’s birthday pic.twitter.com/xoFddZUfLq
— Nature is Amazing ☘️ (@AMAZlNGNATURE) July 17, 2024
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As the gathered crowd sings “Happy Birthday,” Akhila responds by rhythmically shaking its head, appearing to dance in sync with the song. Unlike typical birthday parties, Akhila receives a special thali, a platter brimming with a variety of fruits and vegetables. The video shows the elephant joyfully devouring the offerings, each bite accompanied by the clinking of its decorations.
The video, shared on July 17, has amassed over 3.5 million views. Comments on the post reflect the viewers’ emotional response to the celebration, highlighting the community’s affection for Akhila.
One user commented, “The elephant is called Akhila, and its 22nd birthday was celebrated in a temple in Tamil Nadu. As elephants are very clever, you can clearly tell it was quite happy with the celebration and was happily enjoying the fruits it was being fed.”
Another added, “I love how it’s dancing while it eats.”
“This is so cute, and the elephant just loves the attention it’s getting. It’s a beautiful thing!” remarked a viewer.
“This is how you treat a majestic creature,” another user noted.
Reports reveal that Akhila is the beloved elephant of the Thiruvanaikovil Sri Jambukeswarar Akilandeswari Temple. Born in Assam in 2002, Akhila was sent to the temple by a charity organization in 2011. Since then, Akhila has become an integral part of the temple, attracting thousands of devotees over the past 12 years. The celebration of Akhila’s 22nd birthday on May 24 has further solidified its place in the hearts of the local community.
