Tribespersons worship elephants for protection

Tribespersons worship elephants for protection

Telugu Portal

November 7, 2006

Ranchi, Nov 7 (IANS) With human efforts failing to prevent the depredations caused by rampaging elephants, tribal people in Jharkhand have instead turned to praying to the animals for protection.

The various methods adopted by the forest department have failed to protect the people from the tuskers, which regularly venture into villages, kill humans and destroy crops.

Tribals in several parts of the state have started worshipping the elephants to appease them, villagers say. Elephant images are made and nature is invoked to protect villagers.

"We have started praying to elephants. Elephants were always revered in our society but in recent times the destruction they caused made us look at them as our enemy," said Dolu Munda, a resident of Bundu block of Ranchi.

Echoed Shankar Oraon, a resident of Dumka district: "We are taking to prayers to calm them down. Only friendship with the elephants can end the confrontation.

"While praying to the tuskers we appeal for peace," he said.

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