Ramankutty, belonging to the Guruvayur Devaswom, came first in the ‘Anayottam’ (elephant race) on Saturday that marked the opening of the 10-day annual festival at the Guruvayur Sreekrishna Temple. Ramankutty won the contest for the 10th time this year.
Though 28 elephants of the Guruvayur Devaswom were short-listed to compete in the race, only five, Ramankutty, Kesavankutty, Gopikannan, Nandhini and Ravikrishnan, were allowed to participate in the run, which was held from Manjulal to the temple.
The Devaswom had made stringent security measures for the event. .
Two elephants, Junior Kesavan and Sreekrishnan, ran amok during Anayottam creating panic in the temple town for some time. Many among the crowd who panicked and ran suffered minor injuries in the melee.
The elephants were later brought under control by the mahouts.
