An elephant race (Aanayottam) marked the beginning of the festival at the Guruvayur Sreekrishna temple on Sunday.
Elephant Gopikannan became the winner of the race. It is for the seventh time that Gopikannan is becoming the winner of the race. While elephant Nandini won the second place, Achuthan came third.
The race began at 3 p.m. from Manjulal. In all, 22 of the 48 jumbos of the Guruvayur Devaswom Board participated in the race.
All the participants were given a feast after the race. Gopikannan will carry the idol of the deity for the Sreebhootha Bali Ezhunnellippu as part of the festival.
The Devaswom had made stringent security arrangements for the race.
Meanwhile, thousands of people reached the temple as part of the 10-day festival. It will conclude with an Arattu ritual.