A spooked elephant charged through a crowd injuring 13 people at a Hindu festival in Sri Lanka.

The jumbo was covered in vibrant red robes as cymbals clanged around it and locals chanted celebratory prayers for the Ruhunu Kataragama Perahera festival in Kataragama on July 7.

However, the event turned to chaos when the bull became frightened and attacked terrified devotees as they tried to flee to safety.

Footage shows the panicked elephant dressed from head to tail in the middle of the crowd. It escaped its keepers and began chasing people who ran for their lives.

Thirteen followers were taken to Kataragama Hospital to be treated for minor injuries. A spokesman for the facility confirmed they were all discharged the next day.

Meanwhile, the jumbo calmed down after a while with the help of its handlers.

Elephants are considered sacred in Sri Lanka due to their Buddhist roots. However, animal rights groups have criticised the use of animals in temple ceremonies as they have previously been frightened at parades with loud music and fireworks.

In Kandy in August last year, pilgrims jumped into a lake to escape scared juvenile elephants, resulting in injuries.

While in 2019, a celebration at a Colombo temple was disrupted by wild elephants, causing injuries to seventeen individuals.

The Ruhunu Kataragama Perahera is a vibrant two-week annual festival in southeastern Sri Lanka, honouring the deity Kataragama. It features colourful processions with elephants, dancers, and musicians, culminating in a grand parade and fire-walking rituals.