Kerala temple festivals adopt 'Gen Z' colours and rhythms to match modern times: Here's how

Kerala has entered the season of temple festivals, when the countryside erupts in joyful festivities. The temple premises, roads, and streets are crowded with people who have been waiting patiently for a year to enjoy the hues of the festivities once more. The villages get a sudden boost of energy as the rhythm of the percussion orchestra reverberates and elephants adorned in enchanting finery take over the temple grounds. However, the celebrations have now adopted new colours to match the spirited vibes of Gen Z, although the basic rituals remain the same. Meanwhile, the older generations also join them with happiness and encouragement. These are some of the modern scenes that you would now see at a festival ground. 

Grand jumbos
In the olden days, elephant lovers preferred a good jumbo who has the perfect physical features and measurements. But now, the overall look and elegance of an elephant are appreciated more. The modern elephant lover doesn’t mind if the animal is a bit short or lacks any particular feature. They would be happy if the elephant exudes grace. Meanwhile, the organisers and the mahouts now compete to show off their elephants. This change could also be seen in trends in elephant finery. 

Rhythm of dhol
Nasik dhol, thambolam and shingarimelam – violin fusion are some of the rhythms loved by the new generation. They need the vibrant beats to break into energetic dance moves. Giant speakers and LASER lights that dance to the tunes of the music are some of the common sights that you would see at the festival grounds these days. Band sets and takil that thrilled the older generations, too, have adopted new methods and tunes to compete in the market.

Popping poppers
The times when millions of people caught the rhythm by moving their fingers or waving towels are slowly disappearing. Now, colourful poppers are showered upon the crowds to elevate their excitement. Vehicles fitted with popper machines often accompany a percussion orchestra or the elephants' procession. Meanwhile, the organisers make sure to wear colour-coordinated outfits to amp up the vibe. 

The classic fireworks
Although the colours and the vibe of temple festivals have changed with time, the excitement of the fireworks remains the same. People of all generations still prefer the loud, deafening crackers that light up the night sky. Although the authorities have made the guidelines stricter, the organisers are forced to seek a permit, even by approaching the court, because they know the public's incredible popularity for fireworks.

Giant effigies
Giant effigies of bulls and horses are a common sight at many festivals as they symbolise agricultural fertility. Although this ritual hasn’t changed, the effigies paraded during the festival are often larger than real elephants. Effigies of a bull and a cow that come in pairs are as tall as 30 feet. The organisers often pay the same amount as for a live elephant to hire these effigies. Just like there are superstars among elephants, like the iconic Thechikottukavu Ramachandran, people gather at the festival premises just to see a specific bull effigy. 

Thrilling pandimelam
The audience loves to dance to the fast beat rhythms of the pandimelam. A few years ago, pandimelam was performed as the closing act of a percussion orchestra at the famous Pariyanampatta Pooram. But the scintillating beats of pandimelam quickly became popular as Pariyanampatta melam and now enjoys a grand fan base, including in southern Kerala. 

LED canopies
Gone are the days when layers of coloured bulbs adorned the temple grounds. Now, designer LED canopies where flickering and dancing lights are controlled by computer programs have become popular everywhere. 

Dramatic tableaux
Tableaux were a common item at the temple festivals in Palakkad. Artists would dress up as characters from the folklore and epics and travel around the village in bull carts and later on pickup vans. Now, giant tableaux that boast of excellent engineering and artistic skills take over the festival grounds. These large statues, mostly from Kollam, are extremely popular in the Palakkad and Thrissur districts. In some places, youngsters take responsibility for building the statutes themselves. Besides, caricature artists dressed as popular actors roam among the crowds to entertain them.