What is it?

• Anayoottu, is an annual ritual at Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur(Kerala), in which elephants are fed special food, is done to propitiate Lord Ganesha, who, according to Hindu belief, removes obstacles in one’s life.
• It began when the elephants returned participating successfully in the parade at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games,. But the long journey made many of them sick and weak. To help them regain health, Anayoottu was started at the Sree Vadakkunnathan temple, where special nutritious food was fed to the pachyderms.
• Kerala’s elephant pooram was selected, along with other cultural forms of the country, for display at the opening ceremony of the Asian Games held in Delhi in 1982.
• The elephants included Kuttinarayanan of Guruvayur Devaswom, later came to be known as Asiad Appu, the mascot of the Asian Games.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/when-asian-games-paved-the-way-for-anayoottu/article65650413.ece