Thrissur Pooram (05-May-2017)

Thrissur / Thrissivaperoor Pooram is popularly referred as ‘the Pooram of all Poorams’. It is one of the most important and grandeur Pooram festival in the entire state of Kerala, India. This renowned festival is usually celebrated every year in the Malayalam month of Medam (April) at Sri Vadakkumnathan temple, situated on the famous Thekkinkadu Maidhanam. Thekkinkadu Maidhanaam is a hillock right in the heart of the city Thrissur. The festive celebrations include the fantastic display of caparisoned elephants, with percussionists performing continuously for 36 long hours, beginning at 6 am and lasting till 12 noon the next day. Unlike most other temple festivals, Thrissur Pooram is a festival where lakhs of people, irrespective of their religion, caste and creed enthusiastically participate in the festive celebrations.

Rituals during Thrissur Pooram

The Pooram festival is celebrated in accordance with the medieval Peruvanam or Pooram traditions. About 10 temples from the area surrounding the Vadakkunathar temple participate in this massive procession to pay their respects to Lord Shiva at the Sri Vadakunnatha temple. The  Paramekavu Bhagavathy temple and the Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna temple are the two principal temples heading the procession, while 8 other smaller temples called ‘Cherupoorams’ also participate in the festive celebrations. The smaller temples include the Kanimangalam, Karamukku, Choorakkattukara, Laloor, Ayyanthole, Neithilakkavu and Chembukkavu, Panamukkampilly. The Thekkinkadi maidan is the huge temple ground encircling the Vadakumnathan temple. This maiden is the main venue of the festival every year.

Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of the erstwhile Cochin State in the late eighteenth century is believed to have ordained this magnificent festive celebration. Over the years, Thrissur Pooram has become the most famous festival of Kerala, with people from all parts of the country thronging the place to witness this magnificent event.

The Pooram Festival is basically a competition between the two rival groups, represented by the two divisions of Thrissur, namely the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi temples. Both these groups try to overshadow each other by displaying a variety of temple processions with spectacular fireworks. Each group is allowed to display a maximum of fifteen elephants. The participants ensure that they secure the best elephants from South India and the most artistic parasols for adorning them. The celebration begins early in the morning and lasts till the next morning.

The procession of Thiruvambadi Pooram to the grounds of Vadakkumnatha Temple and back is pretty amazing with the pleasing effects of the Panchavadyam ringing on one’s ears. Panchavadhyam is a musical composition made by a combination of five instruments, including a few percussion and wind instruments.

One another significant feature of the Thrissur Pooram is the spectacular display of fireworks which usually start at the break of dawn and lasts for more than three to four hours. This colourful display of fireworks is a real treat to watch.

Read The story of Thrissur Pooram here

-Radhika T V