CHITWAN: The 19th Chitwan Elephant and Tourism Festival is coming to an end today with worshipping of and feast for the elephants.

Elephant worship will be held today on the last day of the festival, as elephants have been traditional worshipped as gods. A special feast for the elephants taking part in the festival has also been organized, said Festival coordinator Gunaraj Coordinator Thapaliya.

“This year, the elephant feast will be in buffet style. Elephants’ favorite dishes will be served and the elephants will be able to eat as much as they like of their choice,” he said.

Around 80 elephants owned by government and private companies are participating in various activities of the festival.

Various entertainment activities including elephant beauty contest, boat race competition, penalty shootout and others have been held throughout the festival. Also, keeping in mind the demand of domestic and foreign tourists, a glimpse of the world-famous elephant polo was also presented at the festival venue, Baghmara ground on Saturday.

Festival coordinator Thapaliya, said although the game could not be fully conducted the spectators and visiting tourists were very excited to see a glimpse of it.

Meanwhile, the hotels in Sauraha have been completely filled with guests coming to observe the festival for the last two days.

The festival organized at Baghmara ground in Sauraha. Ratnanagar Municipality serves as the Patron while United Elephant Operation Cooperatives Society Limited is co-organizer. The festival is held every year in late December.