More than 50 elephants lined up for the annual Anayoottu ritual at Thekkinkadu Maidan in front of Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple here on Saturday.
An Ashtadravya Mahaganapathy homam was also held at the temple as part of ceremonies in connection with the Malayalam month of Karkidakom.
If it was a sumptuous treat for the jumbos, the sight of their favourite elephants without paraphernalia provided a visual treat for elephant lovers. The Anayoottu is being conducted at Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple for the past 34 years on first day of Karkidakom.
From the most famous and majestic elephants in the State to young calves participated in the feast.
A huge crowd, including women and children, thronged to witness the jumbo feast. They jostled to take photos of their favourite elephants.
Melsanthi Cherumukku Mana Sreeraj Narayanan inaugurated the Anayoottu ritual giving a rice ball to young elephant Variath Jayarajan.
Fifty-odd elephants lined up near the Thekke Gopura Nada by 9.30 p.m. They were taken for the feast after examination by veterinarians, temple sources said. Barricades were erected between elephants and the public.
Apart from the prasadom of Mahaganapathy homam, elephants were fed rice, ghee, and turmeric powder. In addition to the main course, they were offered water melon and cucumber.
In all 10,008 coconuts, 3,500 kg jaggery, 1,500 kg aval (beaten rice), 250 kg malar (puffed rice), 500 kg ghee, sesame seeds, and sugarcane was used for the Mahaganapathy homam.
Police personnel and veterinary experts were present at the venue to control the crowd.
The elephants were taken inside the temple compound through the West Gopuram and taken out through the East Gopuram. The entire Anayoottu ritual was insured for Rs. 1 crore.
