Indian Elephant interrupts Thalappoli Festival procession destroying vehicles in its path

Spectators at a popular Indian religious festival looked on with horror as an elephant went on a rampage throwing motorbikes and vehicles from its path. Luckily, no one was injured as the tusker, named Devidasan, picked up vehicles like they were toys and smashed them to the ground.

Footage uploaded on YouTube captures the beast in his disgruntled mood during the Thalappoli Festival at the Kodungallur Bhagavathi Temple in Kerala, southern India.

It took the two mahouts on the back of the animal several hours to bring the animal under control.

The Thalappoli Festival is annual event which lasts for four days. It is observed during the Makar Sankranti period, and features parades of richly decorated elephants. As part of the ritual celebrations, women and young girls carry thalams (plates) in their hands, which are filled with rice, flowers and a lighted lamp – symbolising prosperity.

The Bhagavathy Temple – the most popular shrine in Kerala and one of the most ancient temples in India – is dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali, who is represented with three eyes, and four, 12 or 18 hands and carries a number of weapons, with flames flowing from her head, and a small tusk protruding from her mouth.

Bhadrakali is the popular form of Devi worshipped in Kerala, like Sri Bhadrakali and Kariam Kali Murti Devi, and is seen as the benevolent form of the death goddess Kali, who protects the good.