The earth shook in Surin on Friday morning as the annual Elephant Festival opened with a grand procession of 160 pachyderms through the streets of the city.

Visitors and locals lining the route at 8.45am witnessed Surin governor Suwapong Kitipatpiboon kick off the opening ceremony and launch three days of jumbo jamboree.

Now in its 20th edition, the Surin Elephant Round-up festival is rooted in the ancient practices of the indigenous Kuy people, who have been corralling the giant mammals for centuries.

In 2003 the festival registered a world record with the biggest elephant buffet in history – a 400-metre-long table piled with 50 tonnes of fruit.

The buffet will be back this weekend, along with a jumbo menu of other elephant performances.

The Nation