Tusker Ramankutty wins Guruvayur elephant race

Tusker Ramankutty ran past his rivals to emerge as winner in the elephant race of the famous Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple here today, marking the commencement of the 10-day annual festival of the shrine.
Cheered and applauded by onlookers who thronged either side of the thoroughfare leading to the eastern portal of the temple, Ramankutty defeated his close rivals and Raveendran and she-elephant Nandini.
The race covers about half-a-kilometre distance from the eastern end of the temple road to its main entrance.
In all, 27 selected jumbos vied for the honours.
One of country's major Hindu temples, Guruvayur has now some 60 elephants at its disposal, parked at the sprawling Punnathurkotta grounds on the outskirts of the temple town.

Most of these elephants have been gifted to the temple by devotees of Lord Guruvayoorappan.
The elephant that wins the race hoists the temple flag to mark the start of the festival.