Thrissur pooram celebrated

THRISSUR: Despite the pyrotechnic display being called off, the famous 'Thrissur pooram' of Kerala was on Sunday held with all its traditional festivities in the presence of lakhs of people including foreign tourists gathered here.

Gold caparisoned elephants of the Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu devaswoms, major participants of the pooram, lined up on both sides of the sprawling Thekkinkad grounds here which was followed by more than an hour long Kudamattom (exchange of parasol).

Pooram celebrations began in the morning with the arrival of 'minor poorams' at the Thekkinkad grounds to pay respect to the deity of Vadakkunnathan temple.

Festivities gathered momentum with the arrival of elephant processions from smaller temples at Kanimangalam, Panamukkampilly, Chembhukkavu, Ayyanthole and Neythalakkavu at the Vadakkunnathan temple.

Famous Ellinjithara melam  (drum concert), another important part of the pooram also was witnessed by thousands of people.

The Madathil varavu ceremony-- taking out the idol of the Thiruvambadi Bhagavathy in procession to the Brahmaswom madom-- was held in the afternoon.

Though the death of seven persons in an explosion at a fireworks unit at Padukkad near here on May 4 had cast a pall of gloom over the celebrations, people from all parts of the state had gathered in the city to witness the festivities.