Decorated elephants are a common sight in the Indian cultural system. Ornamented elephants feature in major temple rituals throughout India. All Indian temples and palaces have sculptures of beautifully decorated elephants, used to carry effigies of Gods or of the royalty associated with those temple or palaces.

Kings used them as their royal mounts and enjoyed joy rides on them. Elephants were even used on hunting trips, when the Kings went to hunt for game.

Even today, elephants are used in religious processions, where the benevolent giant is required to carry the idol of the particular God on his back. Decorated elephants, being such a vital part of the Indian milieu, it is only natural that they are prominently featured in Indian art as well.

Featured here is a miniature painting of an ornamented elephant, painted on silk cloth. This miniature pays great attention to the smallest detail, resulting in a perfect object of art!