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Ezharaponnana Darshan at Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple

Ettumanoor and 2 more places 1–2 days

Once a year, at midnight on the eighth night of its ten-day festival in Kumbham, Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple shows the Ezharaponnana, its seven and a half gold-covered elephants. Kerala Tourism calls the darshan the high point of the festival, and the night draws very large crowds.

What happens

  1. Ettumanoor holds a ten-day festival in the Malayalam month of Kumbham, February to March, with caparisoned elephants, temple music and performances.
  2. On the eighth night the Ezharaponnana are brought out in procession and shown at midnight. There are eight figures, seven about two feet tall and one about one foot, which give the name.
  3. By legend, the Travancore ruler Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma offered them to the deity. They are jackfruit wood covered with nearly 13 kg of gold.
  4. The Valiya Vilakku ritual follows the darshan in the small hours; in 2023 it was at 2 am.
  5. The festival ends with the Aarattu on the tenth day, on the Thiruvathira star, at the Meenachil river at Poovathumoodu.

Sources: keralatourism.org, onmanorama.com · checked 30 Oct 2026

Where families go

  • Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple

    Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple

    Ettumanoor

    The golden elephants are kept in this temple's vault and shown to devotees here once a year.

    Timings and guide
  • Kaduthuruthy Mahadeva Temple

    Kaduthuruthy Mahadeva Temple

    Kaduthuruthy

    With Ettumanoor and Vaikom it forms the trio of Shiva temples devotees visit on one morning before the midday worship.

    Timings and guide
  • Vaikom Mahadeva Temple

    Vaikom Mahadeva Temple

    Vaikom

    The third temple of the one-morning trio, so families staying near Kottayam can add it after the festival night.

    Timings and guide

When to go

Families go for the midnight darshan on the eighth night of the Kumbham festival, which falls in February or March.

Sources: keralatourism.org · checked 30 Oct 2026

Before you go

  • SafetyCrowd and traffic arrangements are announced each year. In 2023 police added 400 officers and 50 cameras, and allowed no parking on the temple ground.
  • Good to knowIn 2023 devotees entered by the western gate and moved through a roped queue to the hall, parking along the Bypass Road. Check the year's arrangements before you go.
  • Good to knowThe darshan is at midnight, so plan a night's stay near Ettumanoor or Kottayam rather than a late drive home.

Rituals, fees and timings are set by each temple. Where the temple sells a seva or ticket, book it only on its official channel.

Sources: onmanorama.com, keralatourism.org · checked 30 Oct 2026

Questions Families Ask

When is the Ezharaponnana darshan?

At midnight on the eighth night of Ettumanoor's ten-day festival in Kumbham, which falls in February or March. The 2027 dates were not published on 30 Oct 2026, so check before you travel.

What is the Ezharaponnana?

Seven and a half gold-covered elephants, eight figures in all, kept in the temple vault and shown once a year. By legend the Travancore ruler Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma offered them.

Where do we park on Ezharaponnana night?

Arrangements change each year. In 2023 there was no parking on the temple ground; vehicles parked along the Bypass Road and devotees entered by the western gate.

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