Thrissur, Kerala, July 18, 2013: A temple in Thrissur,  the cultural capital of Kerala, conducted Gaja Pooja during the month long Karkidakam ritual here on Wednesday.

Vadakkumnathan temple at Thrissur conducted a special pooja for elephants  after a gap of 4 years.

Later all the 70 odd pachyderms captivated by different owners were brought to the temple premises where head priests performed the rituals and gave special feeds prepared with jaggery, coconut, honey, sugarcane, ghee, rice and medicines.

According to temple authorities,  the cost which cam to around Rs 6 lakhs, was born with the help of donations from devotees and the ritual was done during the month of Karkidakam the last month of Malayalam calendar.

The event, which falls on the first day of the Malayalam month of Karkidakam, is held with a belief that worshipping elephants on that  day will bring prosperity to the devotees as the mammoth animal is considered Lord Ganesha in Hindu mythology.

An Ashtadravya Maha Ga­napati Homam was also performed as part of the event.
 

Source: India TV, DT. July 18, 2013.