Kerala hosts elephant wedding

Tourists in southern India were treated to the grand spectacle of an elephant wedding ceremony on Sunday evening.

Adorned with gold headdresses and accompanied by temple music, 12-year-old Raju and his 10-year-old bride Rani tied the knot on the beach resort of Kovalam in the popular state of Kerala, reports AFP.

Nearly 200 people attended the ceremony, which was designed to boost tourist numbers in the area and encourage foreigners to engage with India's native traditions.

"It was altogether a different experience. I will remember it forever," said Clair Abel from Liverpool.

However, Renjith Devarajan, an elephant activist, accused the "greedy owners" of exploiting the animals for their own personal gain while not feeding them "properly".

Elephants are prized in Indian culture not just for their economic value but also for their divine qualities; Ganesha, a Hindu deity, is usually depicted as a four-armed elephant riding a mouse and is the embodiment of wisdom and knowledge.

Kerala is one of the country's top tourist destinations; with a long shoreline of beautiful beaches, waterfalls and exotic wildlife, the state has developed rapidly in recent years and now boasts some the best facilities in the world's most populous democracy.