subject: Thrissur Pooram [print this page] There's no doubt that Kerala is enriched with hundreds of temples, each having its own significance. And many festivals are celebrated in adherence to the traditions and customs followed at these temples. Standing out among the scores of festivals celebrated is Thrissur Pooram which revolves around the pooram nakshatram and is very closely related to temple festivals due to its relation with Thrissur. A huge assembly of devotees gather at Thrissur during the pooram festival which is believed to be the biggest poorams in the state of Kerala. It is celebrated at the Vadakkunnathan temple which is located at the small hill right in the middle of the city.
Commemorated in the month of Medam (between April and May) according to the Malayalam calendar, the festival of pooram sees the Thrissur town housing a large collection of elephants and people. Approximately fifty and more elephants are seen moving through the centre of the Thrissur town on pooram day. Beautifully bedecked elephants are the centre of attraction of this festival. They are decorated with elegant headdress in golden called nettipattam and exuberantly tailored kolam along with bells and ornaments. The elephants carry all the deities of the three participating temples to the main temple.
Keeping to the middle age tradition of Peruvanam, the festival is restricted to temples that include goddesses and Sastha. The participating deities then pay their honors to the deity of Thrissur which is apparently the presiding one. On pooram day the town of Thrissur plays host to all these festivities for nearly 36 hours. Visitors also witness the beating of drums rhythmically called panchavadyam, a pleasing to hear symphony during the procession. The grand firework display seen the next day in the early hours is something to watch out for as well and it lasts for at least three to four hours. Among the many processions carried out on this day, the one from the Paramekkavu temple and the Thiruvambadi Sri Khrisha temple are worth watching.
Travellers can anticipate gaining an eyeful literally of elephants that form a sort of gold-caparison during the Thrissur Pooram. Both Keralites and tourists are known to celebrate this Hindu festival with much enthusiasm. Even though the entire procession is very alluring and pleasing to look at, visitors must not leave out the one between the Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna temple and the Paramekkavu Bhagvathi which is at Paramekkavu temple.
