Elephants participate in the inaugural procession of the festival at Kaziranga on Monday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Jan. 4: Co-operation, not conflict, could describe the colourful procession of elephants and humans that marked the beginning of the 8th Kaziranga Elephant Festival at Mihimukh in Golaghat today.

Forest minister Rockybul Hussain lit the ceremonial lamp to mark the formal inauguration of the five-day festival in the Mihimukh area of the national park.

Led by Jayardhwaj, an elephant belonging to Kaziranga, 48 elephants and 70 cultural troupes took part in the procession.

The forest minister flagged off the procession at Kohora and it ended at Mihimukh.

Nearly 100 students from nearby schools in Kaziranga took part in the procession carrying placards with messages of conservation written on them.

Hussain also laid the foundation stone of a permanent structure, Rangamancha, in the Mihimukh area where the elephant festival would be held every year.

“Since the elephant festival has become a part and parcel of Kaziranga, a permanent stage is the need of the hour,” the minister said.

In his inaugural speech, Hussain said flow of foreign tourists to the national park has been increasing manifold in recent times.

“About five years back the figure was about 6,000 to 7,000 but now it has gone up to nearly 16,000 to 18,000,” the minister said.

Hussain also praised the Kaziranga authorities in making the park a successful conservation story where the population of rhinos has crossed the 2,000-mark.

“Despite all odds, Kaziranga is doing a commendable job and the park has become one of the most attractive tourists destination,” he said.

The forest department has taken various measures in recent times to give a boost to the conservation efforts at the park, he added.

“We are distributing free rations to the forest guards and have arranged for a fixed pay for the casual workers,” the forest minister said.

To add to the atmosphere of festivities at Kaziranga, the Jeep Safari Association today made arrangements for about 3,000 people, including 1,000 children — all residents of villages located in the periphery of the national park — to visit the park.

The association provided 70 vehicles, which ferried these local tourists free of cost inside the park.

“These villagers have a big contribution towards the conservation of wildlife in Kaziranga. Hence, it is our duty to give them a free ride inside the park,” a member of the association said.

For food lovers, the prime attraction will be the food court where local delicacies of various tribes of the Northeast will be available.

Altogether 15 stalls of various tribes have been set up at the food court.

A special show, where five elephants belonging to the park authorities performed various tricks as instructed by their mahouts, attracted a large number of tourists.

The minister also cut a 100kg peda, a sweetmeat and a delicacy of the area, during the inauguration ceremony.