Thrissur Pooram
Thrissur Pooram is an annual Hindu temple festival held in Kerala, South India. It is held at the Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur every year on the” Pooram” day – the day when the moon rises with the Pooram star in the Malayalam Calendar month of Medam (April – May).
Elephants with Nettippattom – Gold Caparison(decorative golden headdress)
Thrissur Pooram – Festival
Thrissur Pooram is considered as the mother of all temple festivals in kerala, moreover one of the greatest gathering in Asia. It has an important place in Tourism map of India, as tourists will definitely enjoy the beauty and traditions of this Pooram.
On the top – He is comfortable to watch the spectacular view of Pooram
Thrissur Pooram was the brain child of Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of Cochin (1790–1805). 10 temples situated around Vadakkunnathan Temple clubbed in two groups, Western Group [Thiruvambady side] and Eastern Group [Paramekkavu side] are organizing the celebration of Thrissur Pooram as a mass festival.
Elephants of Thiruvambadi group, returns after centered on the Vadakkum Nathan temple.
Thrissur Pooram – History
Before the start of Thrissur Pooram, the largest temple festival in Kerala was the one-day festival held at Aarattupuzha knows as Arattupuzha Pooram. Temples in and around City of Thrissur were regular participants. One day because of incessant rains, they were late for the Arattupuzha Pooram and were denied access to the Pooram procession. Felt embarrassed by the denial, the temples went to the Sakthan Thampuran and told their story.
Elephants of Thiruvambadi group centered on the Vadakkum Nathan temple
So in 1798, he unified the 10 temples situated around Vadakkunnathan Temple and organised the celebration of Thrissur Pooram as a mass festival. He invited temples with their deities to City of Thrissur to pay obeisance to Lord Vadakkunnathan (Lord Siva), the presiding deity of the Vadakkunnathan Temple.
Tourists came to watch the pooram rest in the Vadakkum Nathan temple premises
Thrissur Pooram – Significance
The pooram officially begins from the event of flag hoisting. The pooram has a good collection of elephants (more than 50) decorated with nettipattam (decorative golden headdress / golden elephant caparison), strikingly crafted Kolam, decorative bells, ornaments and the decorative umbrellas, venchamaram (royal fan), and alavattam (ornamental fan made of peacock feathers) are awesome and it enrich the beauty of elephants and pooram.
Pooram lovers, enjoying ‘Chenda melam’
Thrissur Pooram – Kudamattam and Ilanjithara Melam
Kudamattam and Ilanjithara Melam are the main events in Pooram day. Another main attraction of the Pooram is ‘Vedikkettu’ (Fireworks / Pyrotechnic). In Thrissur Pooram, the fireworks are distinct in character, performance, excellence and magnitude.
Thekkottirakkam – Thrissur Pooram
Huge crowd pours in to watch Kudamattam -Thrissur Pooram
Spectacular view of Kudamattam – Thrissur Pooram
End of the Pooram
The seventh day of Pooram is the last day of Pooram.It is otherwise known as “Pakal pooram”For the people of Thrissur, Pooram is not only a festival but also a time for hospitality. Upacharam Cholli Piriyal (Farewell Ceremony) is last event held at Swaraj Round.
Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple and Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple idols were taken from the Swaraj Round to their respective temples mark the end of the Pooram celebrations. The festival will end with display of fireworks known as Pakal Vedikkettu.
