Thrissur Pooram: Interesting facts about Kerala's largest temple festival
Published on May 08, 2022 09:13 PM IST
- Thrissur Pooram is held every year at the Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur, Kerala on the Pooram day. This tradition has been going on for more than 200 years in the state. The festival happens between two groups - Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi.
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Published on May 08, 2022 09:13 PM IST
Thrissur Pooram, held in the Malayalam month of Medam (April-May) at the Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur annually, is one of the oldest temple festivals in Kerela. This day the festival will be observed on May 10. This Pooram is considered to be the largest and most famous of all Poorams in India. The festival was the brainchild of Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of Cochin (1790–1805). He organised the festival with the participation of 10 temples (Paramekkavu, Thiruvambadi Kanimangalam, Karamucku, Laloor, Choorakottukara, Panamukkampally, Ayyanthole, Chembukkavu, Neythilakavu). Here are a few interesting facts about the Pooram that you probably didn't know about.(Pinterest)
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Thrissur Pooram begins with the flag hoisting ceremony (Kodiyettam) which takes place seven days before the festival.(Pinterest)
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Elephants play a huge role in the Thrissur Pooram. They are decorated with nettipattam (decorative golden headdress), strikingly crafted Kolam, decorative bells, and ornaments.(Pinterest)
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30 elephants take part in the main Pooram festivities while another 60 or 70 tuskers form a part of the smaller processions of the participating temples.(Pinterest)
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There is a custom called Poora Vilambaram where an elephant, decorated with ornaments, pushes open the south entrance gate of the Vadakkunnathan Temple with the idol of 'Neithilakkavilamma' atop it.(Pinterest)
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There are two rounds of pyrotechnics. The first, Sample Vedikettu, happens on the fourth day after the flag hoisting of the Pooram while the second is held on the main day of the Pooram.(Pinterest)
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The main festival starts at the time of Kanimangalam sasthavu ezhunnellippu in the early morning and is followed by the ezhunnellippu of other six temples.(Pinterest)
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Thrissur Pooram attracts several domestic and foreign tourists every year even though the Pooram is just a one-day event.(Pinterest)
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One of the highlights of the Thrissur Pooram is the musical ensemble which consists of traditional instruments like maddalam, edakka, thimila, chenda, and kombu.(Pinterest)
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Even though it is a Hindu festival, Muslim and Christian communities actively participate in the festival in a variety of ways.(Pinterest)
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Over 200 artistes are known to participate in 'Madathil varavu,' one of the major events in Thrissur Pooram.(Pinterest)
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