For temple festivals of Kerala, the vital segment of the whole celebrations is ‘Elephant Pooram’ where male elephants will be decorated and processed at the temple. One among those elephants will carry deity’s idol. Guruvayur Kesavan, Konniyil Kochayyappan, Desamangalath Avana manaykkal Gopalan and Kottarakkara Chandrasekharan are a few among those VIPs who have already become a part of Kerala’s traditional culture. Through this column let me give a brief description about those special guests of Kerala without which celebrations are incomplete.

When wild elephants became domestic

Bamboo and palm leaves are the favourite food items of elephants. It needs almost 100 kg food a day with equivalent amount of water too. Usually elephants travel as group through forest. Their group contains male elephant, female and kids. Hunters observe the group closely for a few days to know their daily routine path. Then they dig big holes and fill it with leaves. Elephants may fall into this trap and with the help of domestic elephants, the trapped elephant will be pulled out of the hole. Then they teach them discipline, tame and make them domestic elephants. Such study classes are available in Bihar and Kerala. In Kerala, Kodanad of Eranakulam district and Muthanga of Vayanad are famous.

Elephant species of Agasthya Mountain ranges

‘Thumbi aana’ – it’s the local name given by tribal people of Agasthya forests to a particular type of elephant. Its height is below 4.5 feet and its tail, filled with hair touches the ground. Uncommon wrinkles whole throughout its body and special back bone are other notable features. They are very violent wide animals too.

Other facts

As a domestic animal, the first job assigned to elephants was to pull, load and unload logs. During the reign of kings, elephants were used for battles as well as for enjoyable journeys. In customs related to Kerala temple, rituals like ‘Ezhunnallathu’ (procession of idol) and Sheeveli, elephants have a significant part to play.

Elephant hair and tusk are widely used for making rings, chains, bangles, sword handle and decorative. But for such selfish thoughts of humans, poor animals are hunted also.

There is a gland in between eyes and ears of elephant and when the gland starts secretion, it’s the dangerous period of an elephant. Elephant may go out of control and cause destructions and mischiefs as well. It usually happens at the age of 20-25 and 60-65 and it may last from 15 days to 3 months.

Article Posted By : Sandhya Rani  On August 03, 2013lView All Articles

I like temple festivals

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elephants of Kerala , temple festivals of kerala , elephants and temple festivals