Kerala: Over 70 elephants fed in Aanayoottu festival

Aanayoottu, a ritualistic feeding ceremony for elephants held at Vadakkumnathan Temple in Thrissur, is being performed every year to propitiate Lord Ganesha. This year, over 70 elephants participated in the feast.

Thrissur: Over 70 elephants participated in Aanayoottu festival celebrated at Vadakkumnathan temple in Thrissur district on Sunday.

Aanayoottu, a ritualistic feeding ceremony for elephants, takes place inside the premises of the famous temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The tuskers are lined-up in a row and are offered a special feast by hundreds of people. The ritual is being done to propitiate Lord Ganesha.

This year, 10,008 coconuts, 2,500 kg of ‘avil’ (flattened rice), 2,500 kg of jaggery, 300 kg of ‘malar’ (puffed rice), 150 kg of sesame seeds, 150 kg of ghee, and sugar cane was used to feed the elephants. Besides this, 500kg of rice mixed with turmeric powder, jaggery, oil, and nine different fruits was also offered to them.

In a first, seven female elephants also participated in the event this time.

The main priest of the temple Melsanthi Animangalam Raman Namboodiri inaugurated the Aanayoottu by feeding the youngest elephant.

On the directions of elephant treatment expert Avanapparambu Maherswaran Namboodirippad, the elephants were also given Ayurvedic herbs after the feast to aid digestion.