An elephant runs to kick a ball while playing a soccer match during an Elephant Festival event at Sauraha in Chitwan, about 170 km (106 miles) south of Kathmandu on December 28. Elephants and "mahouts," or elephant riders, from Chitwan are participating in the Elephant festival, which involves elephant races, elephants playing an exhibition soccer match and taking part in various other sporting activities. The event runs from December 26 to December 30. Reuters/Navesh Chitrakar