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Aanayootu and Gajapooja at Vadakkumnathan temple

Aanayootu and Gajapooja at Vadakkumnathan temple

The Hindua day ago
The Ashtadravya Mahaganapathi homam and Aanayoottu (feeding of elephants), traditionally held on the first day of the Malayalam month of Karkidakam, will take place on Thursday on the Sree Vadakkumnathan temple premises in Thrissur.
These rituals, conducted every year to seek the blessings of Ganesha for prosperity and well-being, are being led by the temple's chief priest. The ceremonies include the Ashtadravya Maha Ganapathi Homam, followed by the Aanayootu.
Notably, Gajapooja, which occurs only once in four years, will also take place this time. Inside a specially prepared pandal, elephants will line up ceremoniously. The elephants are worshipped as living embodiments of divine strength.
The Ashtadravya Maha Ganapathi Homam will be conducted near the Simhodara deity inside the temple premises. The Ashtadravya Maha Ganapathi Homam prasadam is prepared using 12,008 coconuts, 2,500 kg of jaggery, 200 kg of ghee, 1,000 kg of flattened rice (avil), 100 kg of rice flowers (malar) along with honey and Ganapathi naranga.
Rice balls
Anayoottu will be held near the Thekke Gopura Nada. The elephants will be fed rice balls along with specially prepared herbal mixtures, sugarcane, watermelon, jackfruit, ripe plantains (kadali pazham), and cucumber.
This year, a special highlight is the participation of female elephants. Of the 70-odd elephants to participate in the Anayootu, nine are female elephants. Seven elephants from the Guruvayur Devaswom will also join the procession.
To ensure a smooth flow and crowd management, authorities have erected a temporary flyover near the western entrance of the temple. The elephants will enter through the west nada and exit through the east nada, ensuring safe and orderly movement.
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