Parippalli Gajamela

Parippalli Gajamela is part of the annual festival of Kodimoottil Sree Bhagavathi Temple, located at Parippalli in Kollam district.

The ten-day festival that falls in the month of Kumbham (February-March) is a grand event. Colourful processions complete with elephant pageantry and Thalappoli (women in traditional attire holding lighted lamps in decorated platters) add charm to the festivities. On the ninth day of the festival Kuthiyottam, the ritual in which devotees attach metal rods to their body, is held.

Gajamela, an assembly of caparisoned elephants, marks the grand finale of the festivities. The Gajamela is a tribute to the presiding deity, Bhadrakali. About 50 tuskers line up for the pageant. Traditional drum orchestras and cultural programmes are also held.

on the road from Varkala to Parippally - the girl fell asleep on a motorcycle
On the road from Varkala to Parippalli - the girl fell asleep on a motorcycle.		 jackfruit
Jack fruit tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus).		 tuskers
Tuskers.		 elephant riders at the festival
Elephant riders at the festival.
huge festival dolls
Huge festival dolls.		 caparisoned elephants
Caparisoned elephants.		 asian elephant
Asian elephant.
Elephants lined up for the festival.		 each elephant has its own number
Each elephant has its own number.
two cute Indian girls wear the same dresses
Two cute Indian girls wear the same dresses.		 at the festival, despite the fact that we are not the elephants, we have been photographed
At the festival, despite the fact that we are not the elephants, we have been photographed.		 head of the elephant
Head of the elephant.		 drummers
Drummers.
riders dance on the top of the elephants
Riders dance on the top of the elephants.		 The Paripally Gajamela takes place at the Paripally Kodimootil Sree Bhadrakaali Temple
The Paripally Gajamela takes place at the Paripally Kodimootil Sree Bhadrakaali Temple.		 mahouts are holding silk parasols (muthukuda) and swaying white tufts (venchamaram) and peacock feather fans (aalavattom) to the rhythm of the temple orchestra
Mahouts are holding silk parasols (muthukuda) and swaying white tufts (venchamaram) and peacock feather fans (aalavattom) to the rhythm of the temple orchestra.		 police keep order at the festival
Police keep order at the festival.
It is the duty of the police to preserve public order and peace at the festival
It is the duty of the police to preserve public order and peace at the festival.		 huge pachypodium tree with flowers
Huge pachypodium tree with flowers.		 Kodimootil Sree Bhadrakali Temple
Kodimootil Sree Bhadrakali Temple.		 top of the temple is decorated by the flowers
Top of the temple is decorated by the flowers.
young indians watch for the festival from the roof
Young indians watch for the festival from the roof.		 indian women eat ice-cream on the roof
Indian women eat ice-cream on the roof.		 indian women sitting on ground before the festival
Indian women sitting on ground before the festival.		 Women and children are on the sidelines
Women and children are on the sidelines.
there is no free place here
There is no free place here.		 people are very happy
People are very happy.		 black indian girl with the white-yellow ice-cream
Black indian girl with the white-yellow ice-cream.		 cute indian girls in the beautiful dresses
Cute indian girls in the beautiful dresses.
theater scene on the car
Theater scene on the car.		 city ​​bus without glass
City ​​bus without glass.