The 36-hour-long celebration of this Kerala festival is a confluence of spirituality, divinity, grandeur and blessings.
Spectacular fireworks, extravagant processions of decorated elephants, flag-hoisting ceremony, foot-tapping percussion music, and the Kudamattam (exchange of colourful umbrellas) - everything about Thrissur Pooram spells grandeur. Celebrated in the Malayalam calendar month of Medam (April-May), Thrissur Pooram is an annual Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the most important and grand elephant festivals of Kerala that is held in Vadakkunnathan Temple situated in Thrissur.
The festival's idea was conceived by the Maharaja of Cochin Sakthan Thampuran, also known as Raja Rama Varma who organised the first Thrissur Pooram in 1798.
Story behind Thrissur Pooram
In the year 1798, the temple authorities were denied entry to the Arattupuzha Pooram as they were stuck in a heavy storm and could not reach on time. Angered and embarrassed, they approached Raja Rama Varma, the emperor of Cochin who brought together the ten temples around Vadakkunnathan Temple and organised the first-ever Thrissur Pooram which was extravagant and on a bigger scale than the former. The Vadakkunnathan Temple remains to be the centre of the temples and the king formed two sects- The eastern group and the Western group.
Things to see:
The Kodiyettam ritual- the flag hoisting ceremony that marks the beginning of the celebrations
The ritual of Kudamottam- exchange of parasols and colourful umbrellas
Beautiful fireworks in the sky
The elephant procession carrying idols of different deities such as Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga
Melodious dance by the spectators or devotees to the rhythms of Chenda, Kombu, Elathalam, Kurumkuzhal (traditional instruments of Kerala)
Although it is a festival of Kerala, people from all parts of the world come to witness this grand celebration. It is an occasion of complete bliss and divinity. This gathering is considered as one of the most gigantic gatherings of Asia.
Happy Thrissur Pooram to all!
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 "Thrissur Pooram in Kerala (AFP)")
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