PALAKKAD: For the first time, a Kerala-model miniature Pooram will be recreated at the famous Palitana Jain temple pilgrimage site, about 50 km from Bhavnagar in Gujarat, on February 24 and 25.“The festival will be replete with caparisoned elephants, panchavadyam, pandimelam, shingarimelam and kudamattom in Kerala style,’’ said Benoy, one of the elephant owners who will be in Palitana along with his elephant, Ganapathy, to witness the festival .The festival will be attended by President Pratibha Patil and Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The Palitana temples are considered as the most sacred pilgrimage centre by the Jain community, and is the world’s largest temple complex. There are more than 863 temples located on the Shaturnjaya hills, exquisitely carved in marble, said Benoy.The Malayali associations in Gujarat are not involved in conducting the Pooram. President of the Federation of Gujarat Malayali Association J K Nair said, “We have no knowledge of the matter. It must be the Jain temple authorities of Palitana who have organised it in their individual capacity.”Benoy said that all the panchavadyam artistes are also from Kerala. The necessary clearances have been provided by the forest authorities. The Divisional Forest Office authorities have issued the transport permit and stipulated the guidelines to be followed.It is for the first time that Kerala elephants will be showcased in Gujarat though during last Onam five elephants were featured for a festival in Mumbai. The beauty, height and features like long trunks and large and wide ears of the Kerala tuskers just can’t be rivalled by other pachyderms. Since it involves around 2000 km of travel, five elephants have already left in lorries. There was one lorry just to carry palm leaves.There was one vehicle to carry the elephant squad consisting of doctors and there were two drivers for each lorry, said M A Parameswaran of Mangalamkunnu who is another owner whose elephant will also be featured at the festival.The elephants which have already left for Gujarat are Mangalamkunnu Ramachandran, Cherpalacherry Manikantan, Kuruvatoor Vignesh, Kootanad Madhushankar and Kunnamkulam Konark Ganapathy. ‘’We usually charge Rs 2,500 for supplying the anachamayams for a day for Poorams. We are also carrying some chamayams for the Palitana Jain festival,’’ said M A Haridas, the brother of Parameswaran who together own 15 elephants. “Majestic caparisoned elephants are much sought- after, but considering the numerous procedures, we do not undertake the task,’’ said Parameswaran who had donated an elephant to the nearby Parayanampatta temple last year.
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