Anayoottu Festivals, Kerala - ആനയൂട്ട്‌

Elephants are an integral part of South Indian society. In fact the elephants are hailed as sacred animals, which justify the almost mandatory presence of elephants in the South Indian temples. The Aanayoottoo Festival is celebrated in the precincts of the Vadakkunnathan temple in Thrisur Kerala.

It is a splendid treat to the eyes as nearly 50 unadorned elephants are positioned amid a multitude of people for being worshipped and being fed with a delicious feast. A large number of people throng the temple to feed the elephants. Every fourth year of `Aanayoottu,' `gaja pooja,' is conducted. It is believed that offering poojas and delicious feed to the elephants is a way to satisfy Lord Ganesha the god pf wealth and wish fulfillment.

Vadakkunnathan temple, which is considered to be one of the oldest Shiva temples in south India, has been playing host to the Aanayottoo event for the past few years. The special feed, of the elephants include sugar-cane leaves, coconut, jaggery and the sweet mix of Ganapthi pooja prasadam. The feeding session begins with the chief priest of the temple, offering the first feed usually to a cub elephant.

This July, get ready to witness an unusual event at the famous Vadakkumnatha Temple in Thrissur. At the peak of the Monsoon rainy season in Kerala, the premises of the Vadakkumnatha Temple will witness an annual feast; not partaken by humans but by dozens of domesticated elephants. It is a special occasion for the elephants as part of their health rejuvenation, when they are fed with specially prepared medicinal food. This feast is witnessed by thousands every year, which takes place on the first day of the Malayalam month of Karkidakam, which roughly corresponds to the months of July / August every year. This is a time, considered to be the most ideal for rejuvenation therapies for humans also according to the principles of Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine.

---