At a temple festival in Kerala, elephants lined up during a display of colourful parasols, which in most cases lasts more than an hour and marks the high point of the festivities. ▲
Sticks that mahouts use to discipline and control the elephants. ▲
Thechikottukavu Ramachandran. This 50-year-old temple elephant, who has risen to superstar status in Thrissur, Kerala, was brought from Bihar as a teenager. His mood swings have on occasions proved fatal for mahouts and devotees. ▲
Mahouts have a tough time dealing with exhausted elephants. The human-animal conflict adds another dimension to the situation, in which mahouts often end up as victims. ▲
The festive spirit. ▲
...And the fetters of cruelty. ▲
A temple elephant precariously steps on to firm ground from a truck. Elephants are taken from temple to temple on trucks and the journey often lasts several hours, in a cramped position in most cases. ▲
The white patches on the hind legs are soft, new skin formed over just-healed wounds. The chain rubbing on them constantly can create a new wound. ▲
An exposed wound that can worsen because of the chain, which is rusted most of the time. ▲
Charcoal paste applied to a wound caused by the chain, which in this case fastens tightly all four legs, making it difficult for the elephant even to move. ▲
The sole of the elephant's feet has tender skin, which cracks after walking on hot ground, including tarred roads, and opens the way for diseases. ▲
The mahout finds a newspaper to stand on while the elephant suffers the heat. ▲
Chain marks on the skin on the head. The discolouration a little below marks the point where the mahout digs his stick in. ▲
Two captive tuskers appear to be preparing for a face-off, probably over food, usually palm leaves, or the lack of it. ▲
In this incident, which happened in Kochi in 2003, an angry temple elephant spun the mahout around and stamped him to death. ▲
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