Anayoottu Ritual of Kerala

Tags: State News

Anayuttu, which is an annual ritual at Sri Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur, Kerala, was held recently.

Important facts

• There is a history behind this annual ritual at the temple.

• Kerala's elephant Pooram was selected along with other cultural forms of the country to perform at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games held in Delhi in 1982.

• Taking elephants to Delhi was a difficult task.

• A trial run of the train carrying elephants was conducted from Thrissur to Ernakulam before the journey.

• Thirty-four elephants from across the State were selected and readied for the journey. 

• Many of them belonged to the Guruvayur temple in Punnathur Kotta.

• The elephants included Kuttinarayanan of Guruvayur Devaswom, who later came to be known as Asiad Appu, the mascot of the Asian Games.

What is Anayoottu?

• Anayuttu is an annual religious ritual at Sree Vadakkunathan Temple, Thrissur in which special food is fed to over 50 elephants.

• Food is offered to elephants to please Lord Ganesha who, according to Hindu belief, removes obstacles in one's life.

• In this, many ornate elephants are kept amidst a crowd of people for worship and food.

• A huge crowd gathers in the temple to feed the elephants.

• The Vadakkunnathan Temple, which is considered to be one of the oldest Shiva temples in South India, has hosted the Anayattu event for the past few years.