Puducherry’s sole temple elephant Lakshmi passes away

Puducherry’s beloved temple elephant 32-year-old Lakshmi who was attached to the famous shrine of Manakula Vinayakar passed away on Wednesday due to a sudden cardiac arrest. She died on the road close to the secondary school Calve College when she was out on her routine daily stroll accompanied by two mahouts.

When Lakshmi suffered the cardiac arrest, the Puducherry Government’s veterinary doctor who had been caring for her was also present. He informed the media that the animal was in good health before the unexpected cardiac arrest caused her death.

Using a crane, Lakshmi’s body was lifted and brought to the temple premises. The temple priests performed the rituals and the main door of the temple was closed for mourning.

Devotees in hundreds gathered before at the temple to catch a glimpse of their beloved elephant for the last time. They showered flower petals and placed wreaths on the body. Among them was Puducherry’s Lt. Governor Dr. Tamilisi Soundararajan who paid her respects.

Following Lakshmi’s post mortem by a team of eight veterinarians, including experts from Tamil Nadu Forest Department, she was buried near the temple premises in Muthialpet. Her funeral procession was attended by hundreds of devotees.

Lakshmi was donated to the Manakula Vinayakar temple when she was six years old by an industrialist in 1995 and it was the only shrine in Puducherry to own an elephant.