Thrissur Pooram Festival of Kerala - The Pooram Festival

As the name suggests, 'Thrissur Pooram' is an annual festival celebrated on the pooram day in the month of Medam (mid-april to mid-may) in Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala.

Pooram is one of the 27 nakshatras (stars) and has got significance due to its auspiciousness. Thrissur Pooram is basically an elephant processions between huge assembly of people in rhythm with display of fireworks. This festival lasts for three days.

Earlier this festival was held at Arrattupuzha. All the other temples in and around Thrissur use to come with the Ezhunellapa ( procession of the god/goddess) and celebrate this pooram festival for a day as a tradition, for around 200 odd years. Eventually the festival lost it charms to the fights between the various temple boards.

The then ruler Sakthan Thampuran organized this event as a mass festival and created a venue near 'Vadakkunnathan temple', (Lord Shiva) to organize the procession from all the 10 nearby temples. The festival now is celebrated at the Thekkinkadu maidan, near the Vadakunnathan temple.

Important Timings On Thrissur Pooram

On the pooram day, processions of elephants from various temple come and gather around the vadakkunathan temple. Kanimangalam, Laloor, Ayyanthole, Nethilakkavu, Karamukku, Chembukavu, Choorakottukavu, Panamukkamppilly temples particpates in the procession, Thiruvambadi, Paramekkavu temple being the major ones. The images from all these temples are taken to the main temple. These elephants are decorated with different colours, bells and clothes with all types of ornaments and nettipattam (head bands) and being processed through the middle of the town before assembling at the thekkinkadu maidan. The big parasol is also a point of attraction to the people.

The procession is accompanied with panchavadyam, an association of trumpets, drum, pipe and cymbal. The continuous display of dazzling fire work during Thrissur Pooram festival is also a spectacular event.

The competition between the prominent temples to showcase the fireworks, the procession and other cultural activities offers an excellent experience to all the participants and the tourists around the world.