Anayuttu - Ritual of Feeding Elephants at Thrissur

Anayuttu/ Anayoottu, the ritual feeding of domesticated elephants at Vadakkunnathan temple, Thrissur, Kerala.

Anayuttu(or  Anayoottu) literally means feeding elephants and devotees/ temple management offer Rice, plantains, vegetables, fruits, jaggery etc to the elephants  (domesticated captive elephants) as part of Anayuttu ritual. The most famous temple for Anayuttu is Vadakkunnathan Shiva temple, Thrissur, Kerala.  

In this temple the ritual is observed on the first day of the Malayalam month Karkkidakom (falls in the mid of July), every year.  As per the belief of Hindus, elephant represents Lord Ganesha (Ganapathi/Vinayaka), the God with elephant’s head. Ganapathi Homam, a tantric ritual to propitiate Lord Ganesha is also held during this ritual. 

This footage is from the Anayuttu held in 2014 at Vadakkunnathan Shiva Temple, Thrissur, Kerala