Karthikai Elephant festival

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavaths,

 

One Karthikai festival, I recollect is Yaanai Pandigai (elephant festival).

On this festival, a mannu yaanai(clay elephant) is hand made with kari

(charcoal bits) eye and along with brass or silver elephant is kept and

worshipped. Fresh grass, coconut bits, vellam and appam are offered. The

elephants are worshipped for few days and the clay elephant is left out

around plantain or some other vegetation. On this occassion, kadambam bath

and curd rice are offered as

prasadam. I have heard that this festival is popular only in Karnataka.

During wedding, one of the items given is a metalic elephant, which will be

displayed with the Mannu Yaanai during Karthikai Yaanai Pandige. Of course

all through Karthikai month we used to keep oil clay lamps in front of the

house (like during Deepawali).

 

Daasan,

 

Koti Sreekrishna Tatachar