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Thousands throng elephant festival in Kerala

     Thrissur: It was a magnificent display of pomp and show at the annual elephant festival in Kerala on Friday as thousands thronged the temple town of Thrissur to be blessed by the deity. Known as Thrissur Pooram, the biggest of all elephant festivals in the state, it is a seven-day affair dedicated to Lord Shiva. Temples from the surrounding villages each send an elephant as their representative and each of the pachyderms, decorated beautifully with golden headmast and colourful feathers, face each other on opposite ends. Dozens of musicians beat traditional drums in a warlike rhythm, adding to the ear- splitting sound of wind instruments. While for the locals the annual festival means family reunions, new dresses, sumptuous food and merrymaking, the spectacle left foreign visitors groping for words. "Since seven in the morning, elephants are on the streets and till now people are enjoying. I think everyone should come here once," Alferara, a tourist said. "I have earlier also attended festivals in India and I have some idea of Indian festivals which are crazy, chaotic, beautiful, colourful and loud. This one is fantastic, superb," Thomas, another tourist said. The temple's main deity's decorated image was mounted on the biggest tusker, reverently held by the chief priest while his subordinates handled traditional fans. 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.
- May 1, 2004