Phra Sawet Adulyadej Phahon, the 60-year-old royal elephant and the only one residing at Klaikangwol Palace in Prachuap Khiri Khan, has outgrown his old uniform.

Fine Arts Department director-general Arak Sanghitkul said the upcoming celebration was deemed an appropriate time to give the royal elephant a new outfit.

The department's 10 Thai Artists Group Office was assigned to make the new uniform. It will comprise a cloth head-dress, another piece of cloth for his back, a jewellery net to be attached under his trunk, a pair of yak-hair tassels to hang on his ears, a "Sema Khachaporn" necklace, and a harnesses for his front, back and tail.

The 10 Thai Artists Group has already taken the royal elephant's measurements and the new outfit should be ready next month, Arak said.

The budget for the uniform came from HM the King's personal fund, Arak said.

Phang Nga native Phra Sawet Adulyadej Phahon became the reign's first royal elephant when he was elevated to the rank on November 11, 1959. There have been 10 royal elephants during HM the King's reign (six are still alive) and five "Chang Samkhan", which have yet to be elevated to royal status, said Kanchana Oatyimprai, head of the Royal Elephant National Museum.

According to ancient Thai tradition, all "white" elephants found in Thailand must be presented to the Monarch and become the King's exclusive property, exemplifying his honour and glory, Kanchana said.

White elephants are regarded as auspicious. The more a monarch acquires during a reign, the more prosperous and happy his kingdom will be.

Following the ceremony to make the elephant royal, the elephant will be held in the highest regard, acquiring a rank equivalent to Chao Fa, she said. The death of a royal elephant is believed to prefigure an important event that will affect the Kingdom and as a result a Brahman ritual is held to ward off ill fortune, Kanchana said.

Phra Sawet Adulyadej Phahon is housed at the elephant hall in the Klaikangwol Palace, while other male elephants stay at the National Elephant Institute in Lampang, and female royal elephants stay at the elephant hall in Phu Phan Ratchanives Palace, Sakhon Nakhon, said Sitthidech Mahasawangkul, veterinarian at National Elephant Institute.

path to royal status

lWhen a "white" elephant is found in the Kingdom, the find must be reported to Interior Ministry, which then notifies the Bureau of the Royal Household.

lThe Bureau then conducts a physical examination - which may take months - looking closely at the hair, tail, eyes, toenails, genitals, roof of the mouth and skin to decide if the elephant bears the complete characteristics of a special noble beast according to the ancient textbook "Gaja-Laksana" ("Elephant Characteristics").

lWhen the elephant is found to be white, the Bureau then informs His Majesty the King.

lFollowing His Majesty's consent, a ceremony - heavily influenced by Buddhist and Brahman rituals - takes place to elevate the elephant to the position of a royal elephant. From that day the elephant is honoured and thereafter leads a correspondingly lordly life.

Premyuda Boonroj

The Nation