The most colourful temple festival of Kerala, Thrissur Pooram, attracts
large masses of devotees and spectators form all parts of the State
and even outside.
Celebrated in Medom (April-May) it consists of processions of richly
caparisoned elephants from various neigbouring temples to the Vadakunnatha
temple, Thrissur. The most impressions are those from the Krishna
temple at Thiruvambadi and the Devi temple at Paramekkavu, both situated
in the town itself. This festival was introduced by Sakthan Thampuran,
the Maharaja of erstwhile Kochi state. The Pooram festival is also
well-known for the magnificent display of fireworks. It is celebrated
by two rival groups representing the two divisions of Thrissur Paramekkavu
and Thiruvambadi vying with each other in making the display of fireworks
grander and more colourful. Each group is allowed to display a maximum
of fifteen elephants and all efforts are made by each party to secure
the best elephants in South India and the most artistic parasols,
several kind which are raised on the elephants during the display.
The commissioning of elephants and parasols is done in the utmost
secrecy by each party to excel the other. Commencing in the early
hours of the morning, the celebrations last till the break of dawn,
the next day.
Of the rival groups participating in the Pooram, the most important
ones are those from Pramekkavu and Thiruvambadi. At the close of the
Pooram both these groups enter the temple through the western gate
and come out through the southern gate to array themselves, face to
face, one from the round and other form the Municipal Office road.
This spectacle is highly enchanting. Although this grand festival
is known as Thrissur Pooram, it is in fact the conclusion of the eight
-day Utsavam of nine temples.
The procession of the Thiruvambadi Pooram to the grounds of Vadakkunnatha
Temple and back is not only important, but also quite enlivening.
The marvelous as well as magical effect of the Panchavadyam, a combination
of five percussion and wind instruments, is to be felt and enjoyed.
The Pooram festival is concludes with a spectacular fire works display,
which is held in the wee hours of the day after the Pooram. The Thiruvambadi
and Paramekkavu Devaswams present many innovative patterns and varieties
of fire works, which make spectators going into raptures. This famous
and mighty display of the magnificent display of fireworks add to
the popularity of the Pooram festival.
The Naturemagics website is updated frequently. We invite
your comments and suggestions to make this site better. We also invite
you all to check out the blogs that we maintain.
