The Thrissur Pooram - Feast for the Eyes and Ears

1
Presentation Title
The Thrissur Pooram - Feast for the Eyes and Ears
The Thrissur Pooram - Feast for the Eyes and Ears
2
A temple festival beyond the imagination- the
synchronised beats of the chenda (the traditional
drums), rows of bedecked elephants, the
breathtaking fireworks and thronging people all
caught up in the swell of the moment, the
Thrissur Pooram in Kerala never fails to enthral
and remains a highlight for tourist places in
India. Every year, at the rise of the moon with
the pooram star or the pooram day of the
Malayalam calendar, the temple festival is held
at the Vadakkunathan Temple at Thrissur, in
Kerala, South India. The pooram is a point that
is included in all South India Tours.
www.sherlystours.com
3
History has it that the festival began in 1798
when neighbouring temples who regularly
participated in the Arattupuzha Temple were
delayed due to incessant rain one year. They were
forbidden to participate that year and were
turned back. Incensed by the incident the temples
took their grievance to the Sakthan Thampuran,
the Maharaja of Cochin. He unified the 10
temples surrounding the Vadakkunathan Temple to
pay obeisance along with their deities to the
presiding deity Shiva or Lord Vadakkunathan and
created the Thrissur pooram. He organised them
into two groups, the Eastern Group and the
Western Group and chalked out the programs for
each. The Eastern Group is called the
Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple and the Eastern
Group is called the Paramekkavu Bhagavathi
Temple. The Pooram goes on for seven days at the
Thekkinkadu Maidan in front of the temple. It
begins with the kodiyettam or flag hoisting on
the first day. The highlights of the festival are
the fireworks or Vedikkettu, by both groups, in
vying with each other for variety and ingenuity.
www.sherlystours.com
4
The sample vedikkettu is held on the fourth day
at the Swaraj Round and begins at 7.15 pm. The
final fireworks are held on the final day at 3 am
and goes on till dawn at 6am. Tourists visiting
India make this a must-do in their itinerary of
tourist places in South India.
www.sherlystours.com
5
There is a public display of the caparisons used
on the pageant of 30 elephants by both groups of
devaswoms. There is stiff competition between the
devaswoms for gaiety, color and innovation in the
costumes as well. On display will be the golden
caparisons (nettipattom), the elephant
accoutrements (chamayam), ormamental fan made of
peacock feathers (alavattom), and the royal fan
(venchamaram). Sacred bells and decorative
umbrellas (muthukuda) are also on display. During
the pooram the kudamattom or the synchronised
movements with these decorated parasols are a
sight to behold. Most Kerala tourism packages
include this in their tour packages or Kerala
holiday plans.
www.sherlystours.com
6
0
www.sherlystours.com
7
The illanjithara melam or the percussion of more
than two hundred and fifty percussionists fill
the air with their rhythm for miles around. The
drums are accompanied by other traditional
instruments like the kuzhal, kombu, and the
elathalam, each making a unique sound of its own.
The chief percussionists are always chosen from
traditional families and hold their positions for
many years. Peruvanam Kuttan Marar heads the
Paramekavu side and Kizhakootu Aniyan Marar heads
the Thiruvambadi side.
www.sherlystours.com
8
www.sherlystours.com
9
The Thrissur pooram is a must-do on the list of
every tourist visting kerala in the summer
months. The Malayalam months tend to change
according to the calendar every year, hence
tourists have to check with local authorites for
final dates. Thrissur is located 58 kms from
Cochin International Airport and is also well
connected by a railway station and bus
services. The Thrissur pooram is scheduled to be
held on 9th May in 2014 and on 28th April, in
2015 The Thrissur Pooram is truly an immersive
experience and a must for South India Tours!
www.sherlystours.com
10
Sherlys Tours and Travels 20/191,Kochupally
road Thoppumpady ,Kochi-682005 Kerala,India Tel
91 484 3229151 Mob91 9447956758 Fax
04842235541
www.sherlystours.com