Controversy
For its first time in many years, the elephant festival was cancelled for two consecutive years, 2012 and 2014, due to protest from the Animal Welfare Board. The animal activists were concerned about the chemical laced colour being mocked down on the elephants and feared that the elephants would be harmed in the process. The Rajasthan tourism group, which hosts the festival every year failed to sign up the elephants with the Animal Welfare Board, and provide appropriate documents. As a result of this, the organizers decided to rename it as the “Holi Festival.” The Tourism Department’s decision to cancel comes in the wake of protests by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).