Thrissur Pooram Festival of Kerala
Name of Festival : Thrissur Pooram Festival
Major Territory of Celebration
Thrissur Pooram Festival is celebrated in Thrissur district of kerala , India
Time of celebration (Months)
Thrissur Pooram Festival is celebrated in month of Medam (April) .
About Festival
Thrissur Pooram is the most colourful of all the temple festivals of Kerala. This festival is celebrated in Thrissur at Vadakkunnathan temple in the month of Medam (April) . In Kerala, Thrissur festival has been celebrated since two centuries. The pooram (festival) is also well known for the magnificent display of fireworks.
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.It is a magnificent spectacle with fireworks, umbrella showing competition and a splendid elephant procession. Best elephants from the various temples in Kerala are send to Trichur to participate in the grand eight day Pooram Festival.
The Pooram Festival is celebrated by two rival groups representing the two divisions of Thrissur Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi vying with each other in making the display of fireworks grander and more colourful.
Vadakkunnathan is a mere spectator at this festival, lending its premises and grounds for the great event. On the final day of the festival fifteen elephants marching from Thiruvambadi temple nearby to the Vadukunnathan temple.Main elephant carries the idol of Lord Krishna.On the at same time another group of 15 elephants, will start marching from Paramekavu Bhagavathy temple.The leader of this group will carry the idol of the goddess.On this group 13 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.
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. People carrying colourfully decorated umbrellas and ‘Venchamaramas’ (peacock-fan) take their place on top of the elephants and then the umbrella showing competition called the ‘Kudamattom’ begins. After this event, the elephants are taken back and the statues of Krishna and the goddess are returned to the temple.
Next morning at around 3′ 0 Clock a spectacular display of fireworks begins which lasts for almost three hours between 2 divisions of Trichur, Paramekkavu and Tiruvuvampadi . The festival terminates by afternoon.
