Cultural Gem: Adoor Gajamela – Kerala’s Spectacular Elephant Fair

Elephants are the most beloved and revered animals in Kerala and South India. Without elephants, no temple or religious event reaches its full potential. In Sanskrit, Mela means fair, while Gaja represents elephant. Thus, the Adoor Gajamela is an elephant fair. Adoor is the most visited and rapidly expanding city in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district in southern India. This magnificent parade culminates at Chennapatti Temple, 3 km from Adoor, with nine magnificently imprisoned elephants. It begins at the Parthasarathy Temple. Additionally, Ottanthullal performs a variety of traditional arts on the tenth day. Thus, book flight tickets to Chennai from Toronto via Tripbeam and come with us to take a look at Adoor Gajamela – Kerala’s Spectacular Elephant Fair.

About Adoor Gajamela Mela

As mentioned earlier, “Gaja” signifies elephant in Sanskrit, while “mela” means fair. Thus, the name means the Elephant Fair in exact translation. The celebration takes place on the final day of the Sri Parthasarathy Temple celebration in the Keralan city of Adoor. The celebration is associated with the Thiruvonam asterism and ends on the Rohini asterism in the month of Makaram, per the Malayalam calendar. It occurs in the English calendar months of January through February.

During the festival, the elephant parade usually starts at the Parthasarathy temple and ends at the Chenapati sanctuary, three kilometers outside of Adoor, after making one complete circuit. The elephant parade is led by nine beautiful elephants, all of them are adorned with an abundance of ornaments. The massive tuskers are an amazing sight to witness. Hundreds of people travel from all over to see the march. The elephant pageantry, which makes Adoor the most visited place in the Pathanamthitta district, is one of the reasons the festival is so popular.

About the Parthasarathy Temple in Adoor

The center of worship at the Parthasarathy temple is Parthasarathy, the local moniker for the Hindu deity Krishna. Sarathy is the name of a person who drives a chariot, while Partha is another name for Arjun. His name comes from the Hindu texts in the Mahabharata, which state that Lord Krishna drove Arjun’s chariot during the Kurukshetra conflict. Along with these celebrations, the temple commemorates the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna on Ashtami Rohini. On this day, the temple hosts the Velakali, a traditional dance that symbolizes old combat, Parichamuttukali, a folk art that imitates martial moves, the Peacock dance, also known as Mayooranritham and other celebrations.

This year’s Gajamela event is scheduled for February 4, 2020. Attending the event or festival will provide those who are interested in these magnificent beasts with an unforgettable experience and a good time. In addition to taking in a beautiful sight, you get a close-up look into Southern customs and cultures, as well as the immense spiritual energy that permeates the entire festival. So, book your flight tickets from Vancouver to Delhi with Tripbeam accordingly.

Adoor Gajamela Celebration

Right now, the state’s finest and most sensible elephants compete with one another for the Gajaraja Pattam, a title that literally translates to “The Lord of Elephants.” Elephants enhanced with glittering ornaments and paired with traditional artwork such as panchavadyam make for a breathtaking spectacle.

The celebration, which showcases the finest ethnic fine arts, is appropriately concluded with the Gajamela. By visiting this grand festival you can get the taste of Kerala’s social heart. Remember, elephants are the most cherished and adored animals in South India, particularly in Kerala.

Activities for Tourists at Adoor Gajamela Mela

• Witness the nine elephants dressed in costumes that are arranged in front of the temple and participate in a magnificent parade that follows
• Experience a variety of folk arts and dances on the temple grounds, such as Parichamuttukali, Mayura Nritham, Ammankudam, and Velakali.
• Absence of additional cultural events throughout the 10-day celebration
• Savor the ethnic specialties of Kerala. Also, don’t forget to check out Tripbeam.com to grab the cheapest flights from USA to India.

How to Reach There

By Air:

Trivandrum International Airport is the most nearby airport, approximately 91 km distant. Its operations cover overseas locations such as Riyadh, Sharjah, Bahrain, Male, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, Colombo, Doha, and Muscat in addition to major Indian cities which include Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kochi, and Bangalore,

By Rail:

The nearest train station is located 27 kilometers away at Chengannur Railway Station. Trains travel from Chengannur to important Indian cities such as Visakhapatnam, Mangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, and New Delhi.

To sum up, this ten-day celebration will take place in the Parthasarathy Temple in Adoor. Nine elephants are decorated and paraded at the Adoor Gajamela ritual, during which devotees give prayers to the gods. The massive and magnificent festivities are attended by thousands of spectators and believers each year. If you’re visiting Adoor for the festival, exercise caution with your kids and your possessions as the city becomes quite crowded during these ten days. Additionally, make sure to visit Tripbeam to book cheap flights from Calgary to Mumbai.

Also Read: Top Travel Tips for a Trip to Kochi