Myanmar state media on Friday hailed the discovery of a fifth white elephant, considered a symbol of good fortune, ahead of elections dismissed by critics as a charade to legitimize military rule.
The female pachyderm named Nandawady was sprinkled with holy water in a ceremony that coincided with the unveiling of the country’s new flag on Thursday.
Watched by senior officials from the ruling junta, the 18-year-old elephant was led around Naypyidaw’s Uppatasanti pagoda, before retiring to her new home with another white elephant, the New Light of Myanmar said.
The elephant, which was captured on Sept. 23 in the western coastal region of Rakhine State, is one of several now being kept by the regime, with two held in Naypyidaw and a three in the main city of Yangon.
Despite their name, the revered creatures are not actually white, but have certain distinctive features including a pinkish complexion.
State media have said the capture of a white elephant is a sign there will be a successful “democratic transition” in the Nov. 7 elections, the first in 20 years for the military-run country.
The vote, which will not include Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s opposition party, has been dismissed by critics as a sham aimed at putting a civilian cloak over military rule.
The appearance of another white elephant just as the country made the surprise launch of its new flag was noted by residents.
“We cannot know whether the two events were coincidence or not,” a 45-year-old Yangon man said.
Kings and leaders in the predominantly Buddhist nation have traditionally treasured white elephants, whose rare appearances in the country are believed to herald good fortune, including power and political change.
Two private planes for Myanmar’s Senior General Than Shwe and four other top leaders were named “White Elephant” this year on the advice of astrologers, according to the Irrawaddy, a Thailand-based magazine on Myanmar.
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