Lakshmi (29), elephant of Sri Manakula Vinayakar temple, arrived here on Wednesday to a warm welcome after a 48-day rejuvenation camp in Thekkampatti of Coimbatore district.
Priests from the temple welcomed Lakshmi as she descended from the lorry to a ramp on the Beach promenade. Special abhishekams and pujas were performed by the priests before she left for her enclosure in Sri Vedapureeswarar temple.
Senthil Kumar, one of the mahouts who accompanied Lakshmi to the camp, said that she was particularly attached to the Oppiliappan temple elephant and the Sankarankovil temple elephant. Lakshmi’s health was monitored by a team of veterinarians and she was given multi-vitamin supplements during the period. She was taken for walks thrice a day, Kumar said.
Lakshmi and Prakruthi of the Dharbaraneswara Swamy temple located in Thirunallar, Karaikal, participated in the camp for third consecutive year.
Lakshmi was donated to temple as a 10-year-old when R.V. Janakiraman was the Chief Minister of Puducherry. Since then it has become the darling of devotees who come to temple who have given her all kinds of gifts, including silver anklets.