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Aanayoottu - 17 July 2026

Sree Vadakkumnathan Temple in Thrissur is the venue for the famous Aanayoottu, one of Kerala’s most unique and spiritually significant temple traditions. Celebrated on the first day of the Malayalam month of Karkidakam, usually in July, the festival is dedicated to the ceremonial feeding of elephants, which are revered as sacred beings and associated with Lord Ganesha.

During the festival, dozens of elephants gather within the temple grounds and are offered a grand feast consisting of rice, jaggery, coconut, bananas, sugarcane, Ayurvedic preparations, and other special ingredients. The ritual begins with elaborate temple ceremonies and Ganapathi homam, followed by the feeding ceremony attended by thousands of devotees and visitors.

Unlike the richly decorated elephants seen during many Kerala temple festivals, the elephants participating in Aanayoottu are usually left unadorned, emphasizing devotion, care, and reverence rather than spectacle. The event beautifully reflects Kerala’s deep cultural connection with elephants and its enduring temple traditions. The atmosphere within the temple complex becomes vibrant with chants, drumbeats, rituals, and community participation, making Aanayoottu a remarkable cultural experience in the heart of Thrissur.