Dressing elephants... (Dec 20th ?)

No not a strange dream, but...my parents and I went to a town about 2 hours north of Colombo (Gampaha) to see a 'Perahara' which i think literally means 'procession' (kind of like a carnival procession). These processions are usually held on Buddhist religious days such as full-moon days or days of religious significance. They are interesting as various performers and elephants take part....

The elephants wear colourful costumes (a bit like lighted/lit pyjamas) and we were very lucky to see the main one getting 'dressed'...

The 'main' elephant in the procession is usually a tusker :




The 'main' elephant usually carries a casket which is supposed to contain a religious artefact. Here the casket is being placed on its back. It was a very well behaved elephant and waited very patiently (although its keeper bribed it periodically with grapes and oranges) :









There are even flaps for its ears ....





...and the finished product :




More elephants and dancers ..the way the guy in the lion costume was looking at me was slightly unnerving.. :) :