The colourful Pooram:

For years, Kudamattom or the display of ornamental umbrellas by people mounted on the elephants has been the major highlight of the Thrissur Pooram."Pooram" is a Malayalam word denoting the meaning grand festival. As it is popular and features are so vibrant it can be termed as "The Pooram of all Poorams". It is also a major tourist attraction in Kerala. It is a seven day event and on the seventh day thousands of people across the state crossing all barriers of religion, caste and community enjoys the Pooram. Of course elephants are the chief highlights of the festival, in which as many as 100 elephants decorated with the golden headdress (nettipattom), beautiful crafted koda (parasol or umberalla), decorative bells and ornaments etc. The main festivities go on for 36 hours. It was Cochin Maharajah, Sree Sakthan Thampuran who organised the celebration of Thrissur Pooram as a mass festival. Ten temples take part in the festival.

The battle between two:

The festival is conducted every year at Vadakkumnathan Shiva Temple in Thrissur. Today the Kudamattom competition is between two groups namely the Western and the Eastern. The Western group consists of Thiruvambady, Kanimangalam, Laloor, Ayyanthole and Nethilakkavu temples. Paramekkavu,Karamukku, Chembukkavu, Choorakottukkavu and Panamukkamppily come under the eastern group.

Fireworks – the real delight:

Both Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadu started to arrange their respective Parasols, neatly to attract people of large scale. The tempo starts with the flag hosting and in full spirit from 2 days before the Pooram day. People come from faraway places to watch the amazing display of fireworks. There are four major fireworks displays in Thrissur Pooram. The colourful sparklers that light up the sky (amittu) was started in Thrissur Pooram. The Pooram will end with huge fireworks display. The charming fireworks start at night in Thekkinkadu maidanam with a display of sound and light produced by crackers and sparklers. It lasts for hours.

Indeed the elephant parade is such an integral part of the celebration that the star animals have to be chosen very carefully. They are given medical examinations and only after ‘passed fit’ by doctors are they allowed being dressed up for their big day. Every year new and never seen items are added for the festival. For example, new types and fashions of colourful umbrellas are added every year. The Thrissur Pooram Exhibition is yet another major attraction of the Pooram which starts a month before Pooram. Special programmes are being organised in all participating temples. It is believed that the god and goddesses of neighbouring temples meet together every year for a day of celebration.

And last, but not the least:

When Pooram symbolizes the meeting of ‘Devis’ from all the 8 directions of Thrissur at Thekkumkadu Maidan, they say good bye too. It happens in the next day noon and this event is called ‘Pakal pooram’, bringing an end to this grand celebration. 

Article Posted By : Minijayan  On June 01, 2014lView All Articles

Come to Thrissur to enjoy elephant festivals

Article Source :

http://www.veethi.com/articles/thrissur-pooram---mother-of-kerala-festivals-article-3117.htm

Keywords :
Thrissur Pooram , Kerala festivals , Elephant festivals