Thrissur Pooram Festival 2018

Wednesday 25th April 2018
11:30 AM – Madathil Varavu
2:00 PM – Elinjithara Melam
5:30 PM – Royal Dharbhar (Kudamattam)

Thursday 26th April 2018
3:00 AM – Fire Works
12:00 PM – Farewell

 

Sakthan Thampuran made the temples into two teams, in particular “Thiruvambady side” and “Paramekkavu side“.

 

(Thiruvambady side) Western Group

Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple
Kanimangalam Sastha Temple
Sree Karthyayani Temple at Ayyanthole
Laloor Bhagavathy Temple
Nethilakkavu Baghavathy Temple

(Paramekkavu side) Eastern Group

Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple
Choorakkottukavu Bhagavathy Temple
Panamukkumpally Sastha Temple
Chembukkavu Bhagavathy Temple
Pookattikkara – Karamukku Baghavathy Temple

Thrissur Pooram

Thrissur Pooram is Hindu temple festival that is held annually in the state of Kerala, in south India. It is conducted in the city of Thrissur at the Vadakkunnathan Temple every year. As per the Malayalam Calender, in the month of Medam, when the moon is up in the sky with the star named Pooram, the festivity begins. It is the most popular and the largest of all Pooram in this world of Malayali culture and tradition.

History of Thrissur Pooram

Thrissur Pooram was established by Raja Rama Varma who was the Maharaja of Cochin. It is a one day grand festivity held at Aarattupuzha. It is popularly known as Arattupuzha Pooram. The regular participants of this event are the temples located in and around the cultural city of Thrissur. In order to conduct the Pooram as mass festival, the King united nearly 10 temples that are located near Vadakkunnathan temple and organized Pooram in 1798. All the temples with their deity showed wholehearted respect Lord Vadakkunnathan.

Participants in Thrissur Pooram

The temples are divided into two groups, namely Thiruvambady side and Paramekkavu side. The principal participants are Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple located at Shoranur road and Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple located at Thrissur Swaraj Round.  The two temples are about 500 meters away only. The Thiruvambady side or Western Group comprises of Nethilakkavu Baghavathy Temple, Sree Karthyayani Temple, Laloor Bhagavathy Temple, Kanimangalam Sastha Temple and Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple. On the other hand, Paramekkavu side or Eastern Group comprises of Pookattikkara – Karamukku Baghavathy Temple, Choorakkottukavu Bhagavathy Temple, Panamukkumpally Sastha Temple,    Chembukkavu Bhagavathy Temple and Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple.

Events at Thrissur Pooram

 The festivity begins with Kodiyettam or Flag Hoisting by the participating temples. It is done seven days before the actual big Pooram. In Thrissur City, it is also done at Naikkanal and Naduvilal. The first round of the display of fireworks is conducted. It is done on the 4th day after the initial ceremony of Pooram. It is held at the evening hours. It comes with varieties of fireworks and innovative patterns. The display of Caparisons prepared new by Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady Devawsoms separately. The display comes with decorative umbrellas, sacred bells, royal fan, ornamental fan made of peacock feathers, elephant accoutrements and the golden elephant caparison. In the early morning, the main Pooram begins at the time of Kanimangalam sasthavu ezhunnellippu. The main round of display of fireworks begins at 3am and lasts for one hour. The festivity ends with a farewell ceremony.

Tourists and visitors during Thrissur Pooram

Large gatherings of crowd witness this festivity with keen interest and enthusiasm. Mainly foreign tourists from many countries around the world come to Kerala for enjoying this festivity. The locals of Thrissur participate as their own native festival. People from the nook and corner of the state of Kerala also specially visit the city of Thrissur for participating in this festivity with a lot of perfection. The state government along with the volunteers of the festival organizing committee makes sure regarding the safety and smooth conduct of the affairs of this festivity in a grand manner.