3 months ago
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In a majestic show of contented and devotion, tusker Ravikrishnan of Guruvayur Devaswom emerged archetypal successful the ceremonial Aanayottam which marks the opening of the yearly festival of the Sreekrishna temple, Guruvayur, connected Saturday. This marks his 2nd triumph successful 4 years. Balu secured the 2nd position, portion Krishnanarayanan finished third.
The lawsuit unfolded astatine 3 p.m. arsenic the temple’s timepiece struck thrice, signalling the commencement of the ritual. Mahouts swiftly received the ceremonial bells from the accepted custodians and ran towards the elephants assembled adjacent Manjulal, a banyan tree. Then, the conch was blown, officially announcing the race.
On cue, the caparisoned tuskers — Ravikrishnan, Balu, and Krishnanarayanan — charged towards the temple successful a symbolic sprint of devotion. Ravikrishnan raced ahead, crossed the temple ‘gopuram’ first, and reached the sanctum, symbolically receiving the divine blessings of Guruvayurappan. Balu and Krishnanarayanan followed, marking the completion of the ritual.
With this victory, Ravikrishnan earns the honour of carrying the aureate thidambu of Guruvayurappan during the Seeveli processions connected the remaining festival days.
Elaborate arrangements were made nether the enactment of the Devaswom, successful coordination with assorted authorities departments, to guarantee the creaseless and harmless behaviour of the Aanayottam ceremony.
What fable says
Tradition holds that the ritual commemorates a historical occurrence erstwhile elephants reportedly came from Trikkana Mathilakam to Guruvayur aft the Kochi rulers declined to nonstop elephants for the festival. The contention continues to beryllium organised successful representation of that legacy.
Meanwhile, the 10-day festival rituals commenced with Anayilla Seeveli — the Seeveli without elephants — wherever the Keezhshanthi carried the aureate idol of Guruvayurappan successful a solemn procession, accompanied by accepted percussion ensembles, mounting a profoundly spiritual code for the festivities ahead.
