Kerala - Kochi   

Adding charm to temple festivals

Elephants have been the star attraction of temple festivals from time immemorial. Some temples in Kochi have made it a point to prominently display hoardings featuring the elephants that will participate in their festivals.

"We are coming," proclaimed a hoarding that was erected in the city in relation to a temple festival at Eroor. And the hoarding featured the elephants Cherpulassery Parthan, Mangalamkunnu Karnan and Mangalamkunnu Ayyappan.

It is the Thalappokkam - height of the elephant - combined with its all-round beauty and majestic look that qualifies the animal for carrying the Thidampu - idol of the deity - during festivals.

The attendance of the most majestic elephants seems to have become a prestigious issue for the organisers of the festival. Hence, the wide publicity. A temple at Maradu has included full-size photos of Guruvayur Padmanabhan, Thiruvambadi Sivasundar, Pampadi Rajan and Mangalamkunnu Karnan in its hoardings erected along the national highway. Beyond the din and dust of the festival, it is to be seen how the animals are treated during and after the festival season, which also coincides with the `musth' period of elephants.

K.S. Sudhi

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