Nadayiruthal is a votive ritual where elephants are offered to the
gods and goddesses of temples. The tusker, fresh after a bath and
escorted by a ceremonial pageant, temple orchestra etc., is brought
before the idol and made to sit on a white cloth and woolen blanket
called Vellayum Karimpadavum - the symbols of an honorable reception.
The priest then performs certain rituals.
The identity token tells the name of the committee under which the
temple is and the name of the elephant. Once the token is tied around
its neck the elephant becomes the property of the temple and is dedicated
to the service of the deity. It is thus sanctioned the right to carry
the Thidampu (image) of the deity on all auspicious occasions.
Nadayiruthal was performed in earlier days by the prosperous families
in Kerala. Being an agrarian land, there were very few rich families
and hence this ritual was also a rare one. Though agrarian life has
given way to modernisation and industrialisation, it is still very
expensive to support an elephant as a family property. Nadayiruthal
is also performed with other animals. Today, almost all major temples
have their own elephants.
Elephants have always had a special role in the socio-religious life
of Kerala. In addition to being groomed and used for heavy work, they
were, and still are, an integral part of almost all celebrations and
festivals here. So much so that a majestically caparisoned elephant
with mahouts atop holding silken parasols and white tufts is often
considered the mascot of Kerala.
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