Elephants are donated to the temple. This is referred to in local parlance as "nadakiruthal".The elephant is used in many rituals at the temples and often in festivals.The most famous of the elephants is "Guruvayoor Kesavan" about whom a movie has also been made!! Children, especially male, are often taken under the trunk and between the legs by a mahout, since the belief is that it cures the child of fear! A ring made of elephants hair, is considered a talisman(anavaal mothiram)!!
For the devotees, the elephant race is a big event and in spite of the pachyderms having a history of going amok, they seem to turn out with children in tow to watch this event. Guruvayoor so far has not had an elephant misbehaving.
The mahouts run from the temple carrying the bells that the elephant is to wear for the race and the race begins!
TRAVEL TO GURUVAYOOR: Guruvayoor is located within driving distance of Trissur in Kerala, India. Guruvayoor temple authorities allow only practising Hindus to enter the temple and pray. Non-Hindu's pray outside the premises. Domestic tourism in India is largely driven by religious tourism. Tirupathi in Andhra Pradesh is one of the most popular temples and attracts millions every year and makes Andhra Paradesh one of the top domestic tourism destinations. Guruvayoor in Kerala is fairly popular among South Indians.Sabarimala is another well known destination which is open only in the winter season. The season ends culminating in the Makara Vilakku(January 14th) prayers. Here you find only male devotees and there are abstinence rituals and disciplines to be followed prior to undertaking the pilgrimage.Men typically wear black clothes and do not shave till the visit to the temple is over.
Kerala Tourism Board has a web site which can be googled easily and will provide further details.
Photographs have been taken by SMEVINS PHOTOGRAPHY.For any queries regarding commercial use kindly write to smevinp@yahoo.com
