Thousands offer worship at "Ezharaponnana" procession

Kottayam, Mar 7 (UNI) The historic ''Ezharaponnana Ezhunnallathu'', the ceremonial procession of golden statues of elephants, was held at the Sree Mahadeva Temple at Ettumanoor, in the district, as part of its annual festival.

Thousands of devotees worshiped the ''Ezharaponnana'', seven-and-a half golden elephants, when they were displayed at the ''aasthana mandapam'' of the temple as part of the ongoing festival last night.

The ''Ezharaponnana darsanam'' was followed by ''valiyavilakku'' and fireworks display.

''Ezhara'' means seven-and-half and ''ponnana'' means gold elephants. Each of the seven elephants is two feet in height, while the eighth one is one foot only. The display is only once in a year, on the eighth day of the festival.

The festival, which began on February 27 with the hoisting of the temple flag by Tantri Thazhaman Kandararu Rajeevararu, will conclude with ''aarattu'' tomorrow.

The ''aarattu'' procession would start at 1200 hrs and the procession at the temple maidan would be held at 0200 hrs and it would return at 0530 hrs.

According to legend, when Marthandavarma, the king of Travancore, attacked the Vadakkancore kingdom, his army with elephants was based near the temple. The army action resulted in the destruction of the property of Ettumanoor temple. It is said that while packing off, the elephants refused to move. As a repentance for the damages done, he offered the ''Ezharaponnana'' to the temple.

The ''Ezharaponnana'' represents the ''Ashtadiggajam'' which are ''Airavatham'', ''Pundareekam'', ''Kanmudam'', ''Anjana'', ''Pushpadantham'', ''Supradeekam'', ''Sarvabhauman'' and ''Vamana''.

The short elephant calf ''Vamana'' is is taken out in a procession on the eighth day of the annual festival.

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