Stock Image No: AYPU 006A closeup view of "Madhalam" drum performers at temple festival, Cochin. Madhalam has two sides for playing, made out of leather, which give different beats. This is a heavy instrument which is tied around the waist of the person playing and the player stands all the while to perform.
Stock Image No: AYPU 005Lord Ayyappa's "Thidambu" is ascended atop the gold caparisoned elephant during “Utsavam”
Stock Image No: AYPU 004Father and daughter adore the caparisoned elephant carrying the “Thidambu” (direct manifestation of the Deity) at Ayyappa temple, Kerala
Stock Image No: AYPU 002Timila drum performers at Ayyappa temple festival, Kochi. January 2008. Timila is made from polished jack wood. Timila is an hour-glass drum. It is one of the 4 percussion instruments of "Panchavadyam". The drum heads are made of calf hide and are held together by leather braces which are also twined round the waist of the drum.
Stock Image No: AYPU 003Line up of Caparisoned Elephants, Ayyappa temple, Kochi, Kerala
Stock Image No: AYPU 001A Mahout (one who keeps or drives elephants particularly in India) sitting and reading newspaper under his elephant at a temple festival in the suburbs of Kochi. January 2008