This video shows a very reluctant pachyderm stepping gingerly on to a ferry in the backwaters of Alappuzha, Kerala state in India. It is a usual scene in this area.

Since Kerala is popular for its festivals, elephants are in great demand to grace festivals. They are shuttled all over the state during the festival season. The richly caparisoned elephants are used to carry the deity during procession at annual festivals of temples.

In Alappuzha’s backwater areas where there are more canals than roads, the elephants are mostly carried around by ferrying. You can see people waiting on the other side for the ferry to come.