Watch: Elephant celebrates birthday with dancing, good food, and 'Happy Birthday' song

A heartwarming video featuring an elephant named Akhila celebrating her birthday with a feast has gone viral on social media, capturing the hearts of viewers worldwide. Shared on X, the video showcases the enormous pachyderm enjoying a lavish spread of fruits while joyfully swaying her trunk to the 'Happy Birthday' song sung by onlookers.

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Akhila's birthday celebration goes viral

"In India, they celebrate their elephant's birthday," an X user captioned the video, which has quickly gained popularity, amassing over 1.6 Million views and 27K likes, with the numbers steadily rising. The video depicts a content Akhila, who seems to express gratitude by lifting and shaking her trunk as if to thank everyone for the celebration.

In India, they celebrate their elephant's birthday pic.twitter.com/xoFddZUfLq

¡ª Nature is Amazing ?? (@AMAZlNGNATURE) July 17, 2024

Tamil Nadu's beloved temple elephant

Akhila, the beloved elephant, reportedly resides in a temple in Tamil Nadu. Every morning, she emerges from the temple to bless the devotees, creating a strong bond with the local community. This year marked Akhila's 22nd birthday, a milestone celebrated with much enthusiasm and an array of delicious fruits.

Originally brought from Assam to Thiruvanaikoil at the age of nine in 2011, Akhila quickly endeared herself to the temple visitors with her friendly demeanour. Her popularity soared, making her a cherished figure in the region.

#WATCH Elephant Akila beats summer heat at the newly constructed pool in Trichy's Jambukeswarar Akhilandeswari Temple, as she plays in water while being bathed. (24.06)#Tamil Nadu pic.twitter.com/VswCm7u2Lz

¡ª ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2021

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In recent years, a new pool was constructed at Trichy's Jambukeswarar Akhilandeswari Temple to help Akhila stay cool during the hot summer months. A generous donor from Chennai gifted a shower costing Rs 1 lakh on her birthday in May, adding to her comfort and enjoyment. Akhila has since delighted in her new shower, much to the joy of her admirers.

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According to a BBC report from 2020, India is home to approximately 27,000 wild elephants, with an additional 2,500 held in captivity across various states, including Assam, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu. The country is considered the birthplace of taming elephants for human use, a practice that has been part of Indian culture for millennia.

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