[ad_1]
Temple Calendar and Panchang. Anayottam is the operating race of
elephants held yearly within the
Anayottam 2023 date is March 3.
The race which covers about half-a-kilometer distance begins
from the premises of Manjulal on the jap finish of the Guruvayur Temple and
ends on the jap entrance of the Temple.
The rituals of Anayottam begins
with the ancestral inheritor handing over the Kada bells to the temple Thanthri,
beneath the flag submit of the temple. The temple Thanthri, in flip, arms over the
bells to the mahouts of the elephants which are taking part within the race. Then,
the mahouts adorn their elephant’s neck with the bells and the race begins when
the conch shell is blown by the Marar. The elephant who completes seven rounds
and crosses the jap gate of the temple first will probably be declared because the
winner.
Historical past Of Guruvayur Anayottam
How did the elephant race start? There’s a story which
relates this ritual to the rivalry between Zamorin and the King of Cochin. It
appears Guruvayur was as soon as below the Trikkana Mathilakam temple and didn’t personal
any elephants. The observe was for the elephants which have been paraded within the
Trikkana Mathilakam temple pageant to be loaned to the Guruvayur temple the place
the pageant was often held a few days later.
There was as soon as some misunderstanding between the authorities
of the 2 temples and Trikkana Mathilakam temple authorities wished to show
the smaller Guruvayur temple a lesson by not sending the elephants for the
pageant. The elephants have been tethered on the Trikkana Mathilakam temple after
the pageant there.
Apparently, the elephants managed to interrupt the iron chains
at evening and ran all the best way to Guruvayur temple, with their bells clanging and
reached the temple nicely earlier than the time for the ezhunnallathu (the
ceremonial procession of the deity). In an effort to commemorate this occasion, an
elephant race is performed on the primary day of the annual pageant in
Guruvayur.
Additional, the morning ezhunnallathu on the primary
day is performed with out elephants – the one day when the priest carries the
idol and walks across the temple, in contrast to the standard ritual of the priest driving
an elephant with the idol.
Guruvayur has now greater than 50 elephants housed within the
majestic Punnathoor Kotta. Nevertheless, solely about half a dozen chosen elephants
are allowed to take part within the race (for causes of security).
[ad_2]