International elephant race 2012 starts

The 9th International Elephant Race  has kicked off at Sauraha, as a part of  Chitwan Elephant festivals . Sauraha is the tourist hub for foreign and nepali visitor.A morning procession was held in Chitwan prior to the start of the elephant race. Over a dozen elephants and different cultural floats were part of the procession.Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha inaugurated the race, by lighting a lamp. The elephant festivals is organized in Sauraha every year at December. The main purpose of the festivals is saving Asian Elephants in Nepal, and increase the population of elephants with good health and proper training for carrying tourists, provide rescue and difficult transport services in the deep jungle