This is the heartwarming moment a grandmother helped a toddler give money to a herd of elephants during a festival.

Nattapon Meekaew and his family joined an animal parade to hand out banknotes as a way of making merit in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

Footage shows his daughter, Sherlyn, and his mother slowly approaching a group of tuskers wearing decorative caparisons on January 13.

The youngster can be seen extending her arm and holding out cash as they walk toward the pachyderms, while the grandmother supports her hand to reach the animals.

The pair inched in front of each elephant to hand over the bills, which the animals took using their trunks before handing them up to the mahouts perched on their backs.

Locals often provide tips for the mahouts and money for the elephants' maintenance, which can eat up to 200 kg of food a day.

In religious and ceremonial gatherings, making merit in this way is common, as elephants are sacred symbols in Thai Buddhism and royal history.