The History behind Anayoottu: paved way from Asian Games

Published: 22nd Jul, 2022

Context

Anayoottu is an annual ritual celebrated at SreeVadakkunnathan Temple at Thrissur.

Asiad Appu

The elephants included Kuttinarayanan of GuruvayurDevaswom, later came to be known as ‘Asiad Appu’
They are now the mascot of the Asian Games.

About

This ritual was started to help elephants paraded at 1982 Games’ opening ceremony held in
Accordingly, Kerala’s elephants were selected, along with other cultural forms of the country, for display at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games held in Delhi in 1982.
Many of them belonged to the Guruvayur temple from PunnathurKotta.
After participating successfully in the parade at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games, the elephants returned.
But the long journey made many of them sick and weak.
To help them regain health, Anayoottu was started at the SreeVadakkunnathan temple, where special nutritious food was fed to the

About Anayoottu

The Aanayoottu(feeding of elephants) is a festival held in the precincts of the Vadakkunnathan temple in City of Thrissur, in Kerala.
The festival falls on the first day of the month of Karkkidakam (timed against the Malayalam calendar), which coincides with the month of July.
It involves a number of unadorned elephants being positioned amid a multitude of people for being worshipped and fed.
Aanayoottu, gajapooja, is conducted every year.
It is believed that offering poojas and delicious feed to the elephants is a way to satisfy Lord Ganesha—the god of wealth and of the fulfilment of wishes.
The Vadakkunnathan temple, which is considered to be one of the oldest Shiva temples in southern India, has hosted the Aanayottoo event for the past few years.

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