Laxmi, the Star

A lane in the French quarter of Pondicherry hosts a very interesting temple; the Manakula Vinayakar Temple. Dedicated to Lord Ganesha, the temple houses several Hindu deities. The Star attraction though seems to be Laxmi, who stands guard outside the temple gates.

Laxmi or Lakshmi, as she is called is a pachyderm. Look up synonyms for elephant and you will come up with monster. Laxmi is anything, but that! She was donated to the temple at a very young age. She is quiet and amenable and kids adore her.

She collects coins and caresses visitors by her trunk to bless them. She collects plenty of coins and then hands them over to her keeper. She nods happily whenever someone approaches her with fruits or grass.

She is bathed daily and dons fine powdered colors. She wears silver payals in her front feet and golden bells round her neck. You may even catch her sporting Nail polish sometimes. No doubt then, Laxmi is the star attraction.