17-07-2025
Thousands gather to witness jumbo feast at Vadakkumnathan temple
A sea of devotees flocked to the Sree Vadakkumnathan temple, Thrissur, on early Thursday morning, the first day in the Malayalam month of Karkidakam, as the temple courtyard came alive with the spiritually significant Aanayoottu, a ritualistic feeding of elephants. The clear skies after days of rain added to the festivity, drawing thousands to witness the majestic event.
The ritual began by offering the first 'urula' (ball of rice) to Poothrukovil Savitri, a female elephant, symbolically initiating the feast.
The Ashtadravya Maha Ganapathi Homam and Aanayoottu were performed under the leadership of the temple Tantri Brahmashri Puliyanur Sankaranarayanan Namboothirippad as an annual offering for the blessings of Ganesh and the well-being of all devotees.
Elephants venerated
This year also featured Gajapuja, a ceremony that takes place only once every four years, held under a special canopy where elephants, draped in yellow silks, were venerated.
The ganapathi homam was performed near the Simhodara deity within the temple complex, while the Aanayoottu took place near the southern gopuram.
This year, the highlight of the Aanayoottu was the presence of female elephants, who captivated the crowd with their gentle grace. Around 60 elephants participated in the ritual, including seven brought in from the Guruvayur Devaswom.
Ayurvedic mix
As part of the offering, the elephants were fed large rice balls, which contained a carefully prepared Ayurvedic mix in it. The feast also included sugarcane, watermelon, jackfruit, bananas, and cucumber, specially selected for the well-being of the animals.
The homam prasadam was prepared using an impressive array of ingredients, including 12,008 coconuts, 2,500 kg of jaggery, 200 kg of ghee, 1,000 kg of flattened rice, 100 kg of puffed rice, honey, and Ganapathi lemons, making it one of the most grand and spiritually charged offerings of the season.
The Vadakkunnathan temple Aanayoottu is more than a visual spectacle—it is a blend of devotion, tradition, and reverence for elephants.
