Celebrating their national pride

For better times ahead: A Buddhist monk blessing elephants during an event to mark National Elephant Day at the Royal Elephant Kraal and Village in Ayutthaya. — AFP

The country held a fruit banquet for dozens of elephants in the ancient capital Ayutthaya, continuing an annual event which has been a big draw for foreign tourists in the hope they will return soon and revive the key tourism industry.

The feast marks the country’s Elephant Day, celebrating elephants as a source of national pride and cultural identity for Thailand throughout its history, used for labour, transport and in battlefield triumphs by warriors and kings.