KERALA TOURISM NEWSLETTER
Ezhara Ponnana, Kottayam
Mahadevar Temple is an ancient Shiva temple at Ettumanoor in Kottayam district and is famous for its murals, especially the painting of Nataraja in the gopuram. According to myths, the Pandavas and the sage Vyasa worshipped at this temple, and this has brought glory and fame to the place.
The temple also plays host to one of the popular temple festivals of Kerala, that involves the exhibition of 'Ezhara Ponnana' (meaning seven-and-a-half golden elephants). Celebrated in the Malayalam month of Kumbham (February 28 this year), the 10-day festival witnesses Arattu, the procession of ‘Ezhara Ponnana’, the elephant pageant and cultural performances.
Ezhara means “seven-and-half” and Ponnana means “golden elephant”. Each of the seven elephants is two feet high and the eighth one is only one foot tall. Hence they are together called seven-and-a-half elephants. The procession of these golden elephants takes place at night on the eighth day of the festival. The Arattu ceremony is held on the tenth day of the Thiruvathira asterism. Caparisoned elephants and traditional temple orchestra are also part of the procession.
According to the legend, these golden elephants were offered to the temple deity by the ruler of Travancore, Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma.
To watch the festival, check https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VbOZ7S2kZ0
Ph: +91 481 2560479
Nearest Railway Station: Kottayam, about 10 km
Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport, about 80 km