Goodbye Lakshmi

Yesterday, 30th November, Pondicherry lost its temple elephant Lakshmi to a cardiac arrest. She was 32 years old and unlike any other temple elephant you would have known. The entire city is mourning and everyone shed a tear as they said their goodbyes. India has hundreds of temples and some of the main temples have elephants who perform service to the deity of the temple. This has been part of our culture for hundreds of years. Elephants are considered to be pure, divine and representatives of God.