In Southern India, an elephant was part of the ceremony to welcome children back to school for the first time after 19 months of COVID break.

The students' return to class was a big deal throughout the area but at one particular school in the Sivagangai District, a temple elephant was part of the ceremony, to bless the kids for a good academic year ahead.

The footage filmed on November 1 shows first the elephant and then the children arriving at school being greeted with colourful flowers and joyful traditional music.

Physical classes for standards 1-8 resumed in the state today. Children returned to school after a 19-month long Covid-induced break. As part of the welcome event, in many schools, Nadaswaram-Thavil (Musical instruments) instruments was played, which is used usually during auspicious occasions including weddings
In some areas, teachers and administrators greeted children by sprinkling rose water and presenting them with flowers and chocolates, while Covid-19 protocol, including social distancing, was in place in classrooms.
This school in Sivagangai District welcomed the kids in a different manner. A temple elephant called Subbulakshmi gave flowers and blessed the kids to have a good academic year. Kids were a little excited to see the elephant. But they enjoyed the welcoming ceremony thoroughly.