by Vidya Syam

Created on: March 14, 2009

A spectacular elephant extravaganza, that is "Pooram". It is the colourful temple festival of Kerala that attracts a large crowd of natives as well as tourists. Thrissur Pooram, as it is called, originated in the small town of Thrissur and is celebrated in the month of Medom (April-May) in the Thekkinkadu grounds of Vadakkunnathan temple.

Pooram literally means meeting, and it is believed that on this day the gods and goddesses from neighbouring temples, heavily cladded in gold, arrive with their entourages on richly caparisoned elephants for the grand celebration . The most attractive processions are those of Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna temple and Paramekkavu Bhagavathy temple. A group of percussion artists from neighbouring temples also add colour to the thirty-six hour long parasol display. The festival draws to a close with enthralling firework displays at night which lasts till the wee small hours.

Introduced by Sakthan Thampuran, Maharaja of the erstwhile Cochin State in the late eighteenth century, Pooram is still celebrated by all Keralites with great pomp and show. Images of deities from ten temples in the village are taken to the principal temple. It is a festival mainly comprising of two groups representing the two divisions of Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu competing with each other to make their procession a grandeur. Apart from these two groups, eight other deities also pay obeisance to Lord Siva, the reigning deity of Thrissur.

Preparations are commenced days before the festival and every move made by the groups is an utmost secret so as to excel over the other. Each group displays a maximum of fifteen elephants and the organisers make all efforts to acquire the best elephants in India.

Both groups enter the temple through the western arcade and depart through the southern arcade. The elephants are positioned in a single row, face to face by each group and colourful parasols are displayed by several men over these tuskers. Followed by Kudamaatom, rapid and rhythmic change of brightly sequined parasols, Pooram is arguably the most splendid festivals of Kerala.

The magical effect of Panchavaadyam, a combination of five percussion and wind instruments is to be truly felt and enjoyed. Several other musical performances and the vibrant effect of Chendamelam too is worth mentioning. Pooram is undoubtedly a place in the sun not only for performers and artists but also for the huge gathering. A large group of spectators from all walks of life gather here to watch the exclusive panoramic display of fireworks at night that lasts till the break of dawn.

Although this festival is referred to as Thrissur Pooram, it marks the conclusion of an eight-day long celebration of the ten temples. Pooram is an outstanding pageantry celebrated by people since yore irrespective of caste and religion.

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