‘Sukhachikitsa’ for elephants begins

Thrissur: The month-long annual ‘sukhachikitsa’ (rejuvenation therapy) for the elephants belonging to Guruvayur Devaswom began on Monday. Devaswom chairman V K Vijayan inaugurated the sukhachikitsa by giving specially prepared rice balls, mixed with ayurvedic medical ingredients, to tusker Devadas.
Subsequently, other elephants were also provided with the special medicated feed.The chairman said out of the 38 elephants at the Anakotta (elephant yard) of the devaswom, 26 will be participating in the rejuvenation therapy. He said 12 elephants are in musth and they will be provided with the treatment once they are out of the musth period.
He said the devaswom has earmarked Rs 11 lakh for the rejuvenation treatment this time.
The devaswom sources said 3,420kg of rice, 1,140kg of mung bean and horse gram, 1,140kg of ragi, 123kg of ashtachoornam, and 285kg chyavanaprasam will be used for the therapy.
Turmeric powder, iron tonic, and other items will be used for the therapy. The vital health parameters of the elephants will be monitored before and after as well as during the therapy, by the veterinarians. tnn