Thrissur Pooram

Thrissur Pooram is the most colourful of all the temple festivals of Kerala. It is celebrated in Thrissur at Vadakkumnathan temple in the month of Medam (April). Situated on a hillock right in the center of the city, the spaciously laid out temple attracts thousands of devotees and tourists around the world during the festival.

Pooram is a magnificent spectacle with night long fireworks, colourful 'Kudamattom' (exchange of different types of parasols), the famous 'Elanjithara Melam' and a splendid elephant procession. The best elephants from the various temples in Kerala are sent to Thrissur to participate in the grand eight day Pooram Festival.

The celebration on the final day commences in the morning with a procession of fifteen elephants marching from Thiruvambadi temple nearby to the Vadukunnathan temple. The main elephant of the group carries the idol of Lord Krishna. At the same time another group of 15 elephants, will start from Paramekavu Bhagavathy temple. The leader of this group will carry the idol of the goddess. This group of thirty decorated elephants stand facing each other in two rows in the Tekkinkadu maidan, the venue of the festival while drums and Nadaswarams create a crescendo of music.

The 'melam' includes around 80 drummers and many other artists who are experts in playing various instruments. In the afternoon around 2'0 clock a crescendo of music starts from the area under an Elanchi tree called the 'Elanchithara Melam' which lasts for three hours. The artists play in a competitive spirit. The atmosphere is filled with music and even the elephants seem to enjoy the music by shaking their ears along with the rhythm of the drums. Around evening, people carrying colourfully decorated umbrellas and 'Venchamarams' take their place on top of the elephants and then the umbrella showing competition called the 'Kudamattom' begins. They will keep on inter changing the umbrellas and the fans aesthetically in perfect rhythm to the music. This event evokes considerable enthusiasm from thousands of spectators. After this event, the elephants are taken back and the statues of Krishna and the goddess are returned to the temple. By night, the ground is lighted up with lamps. Early next morning at around 3' 0 Clock a spectacular display of fireworks begins which lasts for almost three hours. The display of fireworks is a competition between two parties representing the two divisions of Thrissur, Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi vying with each other to make their displays grander than the other. The festival ends by afternoon.

Courtesy: http://www.webindia123.com