SURIN, 13 March 2014 March 13th of every year is the Thai elephant day. The northeastern province of Surin has organised an alms offering ceremony to make a merit for perished elephants and their mahouts.
The event was held at the monument of the first lord of Surin early yesterday morning. Eighty-eight monks were seen riding on the back of 46 elephants to receive their morning alms from hundreds of Buddhists.
The cabinet has designated March 13 as the Thai elephant day to mark the importance of the pachyderms, long considered the national animal.
The city early yesterday organized an elephant parade, marching through key streets in honor of His Majesty King Bhumibol on the occasion of his turning 87 this year.
Surin has been known as the city that boasts the largest number of domesticated elephants in Thailand. The art of raising the jumbo-sized anmals has been passed on for generations among an ethnic group living in the province.
