Elephants in Kerala culture
The Elephants of Kerala are an integral part of the daily life in Kerala, south India. These Indian elephants are loved, revered, groomed and given a prestigious place in the state's culture scape. Elephants in Kerala are often referred to as the 'sons of the sahya.' The state animal of Kerala is also elephant and the Government of Kerala emblem has also two elephants in it.
Elephants in festivals
Almost all of the festivals in Kerala include at least one richly caparisoned elephant. Elephants carry the deity during annual festival processions and ceremonial circambulations in the temples. The temple elephants are decorated with gold plated caparisons (nettipattom), bells, and necklaces. People mounted on the elephants hold tinselled silk parasols (muthukuda) up high, swaying white tufts (venchamaram) and peacock feather fans (aalavattom) to the rhythm of the orchestra.
Most of the Hindu temples in Kerala own elephants, and most of these elephants are donated by devotees. The most famous Guruvayur temple in Kerala has more than 60 domesticated elephants and thus the Presiding Deity, Guruvayurappan is said to be the owner of world's largest number of domesticated elephants. They have constructed the world's only Elephant Palace in Punnathur Kotta, 3 km from the temple for their elephants. One of the famous elephants named Guruvayur Keshavan was an elephant of this temple.
Seventeen elephants are engaged for the daily ceremonial rounds to the accomplishment of Panchari Melam in the Koodalmanikyam Temple in which the head gears of seven elephants are made of pure gold and rest of pure silver which is a uniqueness of this temple.
Some famous festivals in Kerala are:
* Arattupuzha pooram
* Chinakkathoor pooram
* Nemmara Vallangi Vela
* Trichur Pooram
* Uthralikavu Vela
* Tripunithara Vrischikolsavam
An elephant carrying Thidambu during Thrissur Pooram festival
An elephant saluting Vadakkunathan during Thrissur pooram.
Elephant feeding (Aaanayoottu) in Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur.
Elephant in work
Elephants standing during Thrissur pooram festival in Kerala state of south India.
Elephants in festivals
Almost all of the festivals in Kerala include at least one richly caparisoned elephant. Elephants carry the deity during annual festival processions and ceremonial circambulations in the temples. The temple elephants are decorated with gold plated caparisons (nettipattom), bells, and necklaces. People mounted on the elephants hold tinselled silk parasols (muthukuda) up high, swaying white tufts (venchamaram) and peacock feather fans (aalavattom) to the rhythm of the orchestra.
Most of the Hindu temples in Kerala own elephants, and most of these elephants are donated by devotees. The most famous Guruvayur temple in Kerala has more than 60 domesticated elephants and thus the Presiding Deity, Guruvayurappan is said to be the owner of world's largest number of domesticated elephants. They have constructed the world's only Elephant Palace in Punnathur Kotta, 3 km from the temple for their elephants. One of the famous elephants named Guruvayur Keshavan was an elephant of this temple.
Seventeen elephants are engaged for the daily ceremonial rounds to the accomplishment of Panchari Melam in the Koodalmanikyam Temple in which the head gears of seven elephants are made of pure gold and rest of pure silver which is a uniqueness of this temple.
Some famous festivals in Kerala are:
* Arattupuzha pooram
* Chinakkathoor pooram
* Nemmara Vallangi Vela
* Trichur Pooram
* Uthralikavu Vela
* Tripunithara Vrischikolsavam
Guruvayur Kesavan with his mahouts.
An elephant carrying Thidambu during Thrissur Pooram festival
An elephant saluting Vadakkunathan during Thrissur pooram.
Elephant feeding (Aaanayoottu) in Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur.
Elephant in work
