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Temple festival Kollam Pooram celebrated in Kerala

     Quilon (Kerala): A unique and magnificent festival drew thousands of people to Quilon for the temple festival Kollam Poorm, a seven day affair. Around 58 caprisoned elephants led the procession for a grand finale held on Thursday. Thousands of people thronged the temple premises as the majestic animals, divided into two rows, stood facing each other. Dozens of musicians beat traditional drums in a warlike rhythm, adding to the ear-splitting sound of wind instruments. The temple's main deity's decorated image was mounted on the biggest tusker, reverently held by the chief priest, while his subordinates handled specially made traditional fans. For the residents the annual festival combined family reunions, new dresses, sumptuous food and merrymaking. The spectacle left foreign visitors groping for words. "We are here for the first time to see this festival and it is very beautiful, wonderful. We have never seen such elephants before, they are so many...In Europe, you can see elephants in a zoo or in a circus. People give them many gifts here," Anna, a tourist said. Hindus in India rever elephants as an incarnation of Ganesha, the God of luck and prosperity. The word "pooram" literally means a group or a meeting and it was believed that every year the gods and goddesses meet for a day of celebration, each arriving on a majestic tusker.
- April 16, 2004