Kerala temple festivals

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By: guest on 18th June, 2010 with 0 comments

The south Indian state of Kerala is filled with temples that are renowned for their exotic temple festivals. The large processions of elephants, resplendent in ornaments, are the main attractions of these festivals. The processions are accompanied by colorful floats, drummers and other musicians.

Every year, in the month of Meenam (March-April), a ten day Arattu festival is celebrated at the Janardhana Swamy Temple in Kerala's beach town of Varkala. The festival starts with a Kodiyettam flag hoisting ceremony, and ends with a procession of five decorated elephants through the streets. During the forth and fifth days of the festival, the celebrations include all night long performances such as traditional Kathakali dancing. These colorful photos show the splendor of the temple festival.

As well as the elephants and musicians, the temple festival parade also has a range of other colorful performers, dressed to reflect various Hindu legends associated with the temple.