Adoor Gajamela

Adoor Gajamela or elephant-pageant is part of the ten-day festival at the Parthasarathy temple at Adoor, organized in the months of January/February. This year , in 2019, it falls on the 27th January. The place is near to the serene backwaters of Alleppey. The best and healthiest of elephants from across the state vie against each other for the Gajarajappattam (a title which literally means ‘the king of elephants’). Elephants adorned in glittering ornaments and accompanied by traditional art forms like panchavaadyam are a sight to behold. The Gajamela is a fitting conclusion to the festival which showcases the choicest of ethnic art forms.

The Adoor Gajamela forms the cornerstone of the ten-day annual celebration held at the Parthasarathy Temple in Adoor. Giant crowds are witness to the 9 mighty tuskers being paraded, adorned with a plethora of special decorations. This temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna, is home to a great amount of cultural programmes during the festival, making it among the most visited sites in all of Pathanamthitta district.

When it comes to festivals, the elephant is the most well-loved and the revered animal in South India, especially in Kerala. Be it just one or be it, scores of them, the elephants have an important place in festival processions and in temples. ‘Gaja’ in Sanskrit means ‘Elephant’ and Mela means ‘a fair’. The Adoor Gajamela is therefore a fair of elephants.