Source: The Hindu
THRISSUR, INDIA, February 25, 2002: Out of a total of 40 of the 58 elephants of the Guruvayur Devaswom-run elephant shelter paraded before the Manjulal premises for the race, only seven elephants were allowed to run. The 39-year-old tusker, Kannan, emerged winner for the seventh time at the famous “anayottam” (elephant race) at the Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple. It is the seventh time that Kannan won. The seven elephants which participated in the race were received with blowing of the conch and “nirapara” at the front of the temple. There was a huge crowd on the temple premises to watch the race. The veterinarians, K. C. Panickar, Muraleedharan Nair, and ayurveda expert dealing with elephants, Avaniparambu Maheswaran Namboodiri, were also present at the scene. Only those elephants certified by the veterinarians participated in the race.