+91 9549279999 
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. A large number of people throng the temple to feed the elephants.
Every year of Aanayoottu, gaja pooja, is conducted. 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 fulfillment 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.
Aanayoottu at Vadakkumnathan Temple
Elephants are an integral part of Kerala culture. It is the presence of richly adorned elephants that gives a majority of the traditional festivals of Kerala a touch of grandeur and glory.
Aanayoottu at the Vadakkumnathan Temple in Thrissur district is a ritualistic feeding ceremony (locally known as Aanayoottu) that takes place inside the premises of the famous temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
On the festival day the elephants are brought inside the premises of the Vadakkumnathan Temple for the special feast. Here, the elephants are lined-up in a single row and facing them would be thousands of people ready with offerings in their hands to feed the elephants. Sugarcane, rice, ghee, coconut, jaggery and Ayurvedic medicines are the major ingredients of the special feed for the elephants.
Aanayoottu and Ayurveda
Kerala is synonymous with Ayurveda. The thousand year old tradition holds its roots in the vedic traditions of the state. Traditionally it is believed, Ayurveda is a good time to balance the three body doshas-Vaat, Pittha and Kaffa. During monsoons, the body is believed to respond more positively to treatment. To regulate the internal systems of the body, Keralites maintain a particular diet regime during monsoons.
Kerala, the “God’s Own Country” is a land of colours! Be it the nature’s ‘green’ shade romancing the ’emerald’ backwaters, the ‘golden’ rays of the sun caressing the clear ‘white’ sands, or the ‘azure’ sky calling for the mystical ‘hues’, Kerala showcases all the colours of Mother Nature! Well, if you want to explore all these shades and colours of the nature, you must your Kerala trip during any of the fairs and festivals in Kerala! It is during the fairs and festivals; the entire of the state unites together, removes all the religious and communal barriers, to celebrate every moment with full vigour and enthusiasm. No matter what background they are from, the way these locals celebrate the fairs and festivals in Kerala, it simply creates an everlasting memory in the minds of everyone!
