63 elephants treated to lavish feast in majestic Kerala temple ceremony

The Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur, Kerala, transformed into a spectacle of devotion and grandeur during the 43rd annual Aanayoottu (elephant feeding) ceremony, drawing thousands of devotees and visitors on Thursday.

A sacred feast for gentle giants

From dawn, people of all ages poured into the temple premises to witness and take part in the centuries-old ritual. Sixty-three elephants, including nine female elephants, lined up within the temple's inner grounds, each receiving a lavish ceremonial feast.

The elephants were fed a lavish mix of 500kg of cooked rice blended with turmeric, jaggery, and honey. Supplementing this were fresh jackfruit, bananas, watermelon, cucumber, sugarcane, and traditional ayurvedic herbs.

Tradition meets devotion

The ceremony was inaugurated by the temple’s chief priest, Cherumukku Sreeraj Narayanan Namboothiri, who began by offering the feast to a young female elephant, Puthrikovil Savithri. The elephants entered through the western gate and exited via the eastern side, with a special ramp installed to ease crowd movement.

Despite heavy rains earlier in the day, the skies cleared just in time, allowing the full ritual to unfold uninterrupted. The temple advisory committee, which organised the event, ensured seamless coordination.

Tight security and high-profile attendance

The Thekkinkadu Maidan was packed with vehicles and devotees, while police, under the direction of Assistant Commissioner Saleesh Shankar, maintained strict security arrangements.

Several prominent figures attended, including Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi, Thrissur Mayor M. K. Varghese, MLA P. Balachandran, Cochin Devaswom Board President K. Ravindran, and singer Vijay Yesudas.

A feast for devotees too

The day concluded with annadanam — a community feast served to thousands, reinforcing the deep bond between people, tradition, and these revered animals.