Guwahati, Sept. 15 -- Five-year-old female elephant Durga, transported nearly 3,000 km from Assam, reached the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, on Monday (September 14), coinciding with Ganesh Chaturthi.

According to Tamil media reports, temple staff and devotees welcomed Durga upon her arrival by showering her with flower petals.

Durga is owned by Assam resident Punya Pegu of Laika forest village under Guijan police station in Tinsukia district. She was transported from Manas National Park in Assam to the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai.

While the temple authorities have welcomed Durga's arrival, the transfer has come amid continuing controversy over the relocation of five captive elephants from Assam to temples and re...