Trichur / Thrissur

Trichur / Thrissur - The cultural capital of Kerala.

Trichur ,recently renamed as Thrissur- is at the middle of the state of Kerala. This district which is undoubtedly the capital of Kerala’s culture, has an area of about 3032 sq..kilometres and has a population of about three million. It is from Thrissur to north wards the area known as Malabar begins. Malabar is well known for it’s rustic beauty and straight forward people. They are well known for their trust worthiness.

The title cultural capital was attributed to this district not because of the reason that the Academy for Kerala’s music and drama and Kerala Kalamadalam(The institute for teaching ” kathakali” Kerala’s most well known form of art).This institute was established by Sri.Vallathol Narayana Menon, -the famous poet of kerala).The long history of nurturing traditional arts is in the vein of each and every residents of this district. The active participation of every spectator when “pancha vadya (orchestra of five instruments) is played is a standing testimony of the love the residents have to this sort of old performing arts. Here religion caste creed are no bar. Among the crowd there devout Christians who cherish every ascends and descends of the orchestra which is traditionally played in temple compounds. The Christians are of very aristocratic origin and well known connoisseurs of traditional arts.

Pooram the grand temple festival of Thrissur is no doubt the mother all festivals. It is rather an emotion of all the people residing around this region. Celebrated during April –May all the eyes are focused in to the middle of the town –the big round formerly known as the Thekkinkadu maidanam. In this compound is located the famous shiva tempe known as Vadakkun-Natha-Temple, where all the deities of the surrounding temples especially from Paramekkavu and Thiruvampady arrive in pomps and style accompanied by numerous artists, dozens of elephants and thousands of devotees such numerous processions assemble in a single vast areas and playing panchavadya at its peek elephants all in exquisite caparisons is a sight which words can seldom explain it is to be seen to be believed. In the inside compound of the temple where there is a large tree (elanji) under which the climax of the orchestra is played when spectators joy reach in feverish pitch they hold their hands up counting every beat with their fingers radiating their thrill to the people all around. Kuda matton where thousands of umbrellas of different colors and designs are displayed as mahouts and priests of temple mounted on big and glamorous elephants with accompaniment of the cheering crowd. Fire works is also a very important item in the festival. As the scale used in thrissur festivals is massive this pyrotechnics also in gargantuan proportions.

There are other big temples in Thrissur The Guruvayur is one of the biggest temples in Kerala with a long history Koodalmanikkyam is in Manavalassery village in Irinjalakkuda very near to Thris ur. The nearest airport in Nedumpassery and Thrissur is well connected by train. National highway No.17 passes through Thrissur and is well connected to Tamilnadu by good roads via palghat.

Any one who is lookin for a celebration that to last in his mind and soul has not bother of this and that simply go to thrissur during pooram(during April-May) stay there enjoy all the treats offered by pooram and return home . He will never be disappointed!

Author: Sasi Kumar

Source: Naturemagics.com - website on Kerala Tourism

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