Fairs & Festivals of India 2011

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Kanjiramattom Kodikuthu, Ernakulam

Built as a memorial to Sheikh Fariduddin, the Kanjiramattom mosque is the place where this festival is held. During the 'Chandanakkudam' ritual at night the pilgrims carry pots covered with sandalwood paste and proceed in a procession to the mosque. You can get to see a glimpse of the six caparisoned and ornamented elephants and folk performances add color to the performance. You can see traditional Muslim song and dance performances like 'Duffmuttu', 'Kolkali', Oppana and Mappilappattu during the festival.

One of the famous Muslim festivals of Kerala, the Kanjiramattom Kodikuthu is held 25 km from Ernakulam in the month of January. Celebrated in Kanjiramattom the Kodikuthu Festival draws number of tourists from all over. People dress in their best clothes and offer their prayers in the Kanjiramattom mosque during this festival.

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Kodungalloor Bhagavathi Temple

Kodungalloor was the past capital of Kerala and is the home to the Kodungalloor Bhagavathi Temple, the venue to the festival and is one of the wealthiest temples of the country. The festival is attended by thousands of devotees who thronged into the temple to be a part of the occasion. The temple is 32 km from Ernakulam.

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Paripally Gajamela

The Paripally Gajamela takes place at the Paripally Kodimootil Sree Bhadrakaali Temple. The elephant procession takes place on the tenth day of the annual festivities at the temple. A unique practice observed during these festivities is the ritual offering of elephants to deities as Nercha (offering). It is a popular belief that an offering of elephants satisfies the deity and grants all the wishes of the devotees. The festival is punctuated by cultural programs and culminates in the Paripally Gajamela- the mega elephant pageant held as part of the annual festival on the tenth day of festivities at the Kodimootil Sree Bhadrakaali Temple dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali. About a 100 gorgeously caparisoned elephants are lined up for the event. Gaja is Sanskrit means elephant and Mela means pageant of fair to be more precise- hence the name gajamela.

The pooram and vela festivals are the best occasions to watch the majestic tuskers when they are taken out in all their caparisoned splendor. During the festival, colorfully decked up elephants, numbering fifteen to hundred or more, line up on the temple premises. With mahouts atop them, holding high tinselled silk parasols (muthukuda) and swaying white tufts (venchamaram) and peacock feather fans (aalavattom) to the rhythm of the temple orchestra.

How To Reach : 48 km from Thiruvananthapuram in Feb-Mar. Event Date : On 1 Mar 2009.