BALLARI, INDIA, November 14, 2020 (The News Minute): A video clip in which a thirsty elephant is seen stopping a water tanker en route its procession during Hampi Utsav in Karnataka’s Bellary has gone viral. This incident took place during a Shobha yatra (procession) to mark the beginning of the day-long Hampi Utsav on Friday. In the clip, the giant is seen stopping a water tanker and gently signaling its driver to open the tanker lid to help quench its thirst. At first the driver looks perturbed over the elephant coming towards him. But after the explanation by the state’s Forest Minister Anand Singh’s son, Siddharth Singh, that the elephant was asking him to open the lid, the driver then allowed the elephant to quench its thirst. After quenching its thirst, the elephant moved ahead in a procession.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Karnataka had decided to cut short this year’s Hampi Utsav to a day-long celebration instead of its three-day annual gala fest. Hampi, situated 233 miles from Bengaluru, has been described by UNESCO as an “austere, grandiose site” of more than 1,600 surviving remains of the last great Hindu kingdom in South India. The backdrop of the Utsav is Hampi and its ruins. The festival includes lighting up of the prominent monuments in Hampi, Jumboo Saavari (elephant procession), performances by some of India’s most celebrated singers, dancers and performers, a kite festival, water sports, food courts, photography competition, rangoli and mehendi competition.
Watch thirsty elephant stop water tanker here: https://youtu.be/Vw09iJicTfo