Aanayoottu Festival, Kerala

According to the Malayalam calendar, the Aanayootto Festival in Kerala is held on the first day of the month of Karkkidakam. This coincides with the month of July.

Elephants are an integral part of South Indian society. In fact, the elephants are hailed as sacred animals, which justifies the almost mandatory presence of elephants in the South Indian temples. For example, the Aanayoottu Festival is celebrated in the precincts of the Vadakkunnathan temple in Thrissur, Kerala.

Description of Aanayoottu Festival

It is a splendid treat to the eyes as nearly 50 unadorned elephants are positioned amid many people to be worshipped and 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 are a way to satisfy Lord Ganesha, the god of wealth and wish fulfillment.

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

When Aanayoottu Festival is celebrated in Thrisur

Aanayoottu Festival in Kerala is celebrated with full of joy in the month of July.