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Pooram is one of the nakshatras or star in the hindu panchangam. There 27 Nakshatras in the hindu panchangam and a million or more temples in Kerala, and this combination creates numerous posibilities for auspicious occasions, with each temple having varying importance for the different stars. However, over the years, the pooram nakshatram has gained special significance in its association with temple festivals, mainly because of its association with Thrissur. It has now taken on a different meaning all together, because of the huge congregation of people during the pooram festival in Thrissur. Thrissur Pooram is today, rightfully, called 'the pooram of all poorams', meaning the biggest or the best of all poorams. The Thrissur pooram, is celebrated every year, on the pooram day, in the month of Medam (mid-april to mid-may) month as per the malayalam calendar. While all poorams, have a huge influence on surrounding neighborhoods and towns, few other festivals require their active involvement. Thrissur town plays host, for 36 hours from the wee hours of the pooram day, to one of the most largest collection of people and elephants. The richly decorated elephant, as seen during the Thrissur pooram, is now globally recognized, and its association with Kerala. On the pooram day, fifty or more elephants will pass through the very center of Thrissur town, or the Vadakkunnathan temple. The main features of the pooram festival are these decorated elephants with their nettipattam (decorative headdress), beautiful crafted koda (parasol or umberalla), the kolam, decorative bells and ornaments etc. Add to this the panchavadyam, the rhythmic beating of the drum, and what would be a cacophony otherwise is turned into an organized but spontaneous symphony. The fireworks display in the early hours of the next day, will rival shows held anywhere in the world, without even using many of the modern and newer pyrotechnics. It is celebrated in Vadakkumnathan temple in the Thrissur district. The festival makes no distinction between people on the basis of religion or caste. The Pooram commences with the ezhunellippu of the Kanimangalam Shasta in the morning followed by the ezhunnellippu of the other six minor temples on the Pooram Day. The ezhunnellippu is a custom that signifies the visit of Devi from the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi temples to the Vadakkunnathan temple. Panchavadya, performances by Thimila, Maddalam, Trumpet, Cymbal and Edakka artists are other major programs of Thrissur Pooram festival. A special musical show, called as Pandemelam event, is performed by artistes belonging to the disciplines of trumpets, drum, pipe and cymbal. The festival ends with a farewell program for the deities of the Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu Devaswams. During the festival season, Thrissur, popularly known as the temple town turns into a town of colour, music and mirth. The Pooram programmes extending about 36 hours begins with the ezhunellippu of the Kanimangalam Shasta in the morning and is followed by the ezhunnellippu of the other six minor temples on the Pooram Day. The ezhunnellippu programme, which is considered to be a ritual sybolising the visit of the Devi from the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi temples to the Vadakkunnathan temple. A major event of the Pooram festival is the Panchavadyam in which about 200 artistes from the disciplines of Thimila, Maddalam, Trumpet, Cymbal and Edakka participate. Another major event of the pooram begins with the setting off of the 'Pandemelam'at noon in which about 200 artistes in the disciplines of drum, trumpets, pipe and cymbal participate. The grand finale of this festival of colour, music and fire works would be marked with a function of bidding farewell to the deities of the Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu Devaswams in front of the Western Gate of the Vadakkunnathan Temple. A noteworthy feature of the pooram festival is the participation of large numbers of people and elephants. The pachyderms emerge out in all their regalia with newly fabricated caparisons. They make their way through the milling crowds drawn from all religions, castes and creed to the accompaniment of ecstatic percussion ensembles. The exhibition of the paraphernalia of elephant decorative, commonly known as 'Aana Chamayal pradarsanam', the spectacular show of 'Kudamattom' in which parasols of myriad numbers, designs and colours are exchanged by the people atop the elephants. In the evening of Pooram, two lines of 13 elephants face each other on the ground. Each elephant bears an umbrella holder, a peacock-fan carrier and a yak-tail flywhisk wielder. Percussion and wind orchestras stand in between the lines of elephants. With an increase in the volume of each orchestra, a new display of ceremonial umbrellas blossoms over the elephants and continues till sunset. The Pooram concludes with brilliant display of the fireworks in the evening, which continues till late hours of the next morning. Some of the main Pooram celebrations are at Aratupuzha, Thrissur, Uthralikavu, Cheeramkulangara, Pariyanampetta, Mannarkad, Perumanam, Aryankavu, Mangottu, Medamkulangara, Kodikal and Thirumandhamkunnu. |
Location info: |
Address:Thrissur, Kerala |
District: Thrissur |
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Best time to visit: April / May |
History: |
Sakthan Thampuran, the Raja of Kochi, introduced Thrissur Pooram during his reign 1775- 1790 AD. According to Malayalam calendar, meeting of the Gods occurs in the month of spring, i.e., Malayalam Medam that occurs between April and May. The festival is being celebrated continuously for almost two centuries now. The festival begins at 6 in the morning, continues for nearly 36 hours and concludes at 12 noon the other day. |
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Interesting things to Visit: |
The Shakthan Thampuran Palace Anakkayam Cheruthuruthy (Kerala Kalamandalam) Vadakkumnathan Temple Art Museum The Church of Our Lady of Dolors Peechi Dam The Archeological & Art Museum at Thrissur Thrissur Zoo Punnathur Kotta Kerala Sahitya Academy Guruvayur (Pilgrim Centre) Kerala Lalitha Kala Academy Vilangan Kunnu Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy Athirapally and Vazhachal Waterfalls |
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