Thrissur Pooram Festival of Kerala - The Pooram Festival

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 procession between a huge assembly of people in rhythm with the 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 its 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.

On the program day, processions of elephants from various temples come and gather around the Vadakkunathan temple. Kanimangalam, Laloor, Ayyanthole, Nethilakkavu, Karamukku, Chembukavu, Choorakottukavu, and Panamukkamppilly temples participate 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 colors, bells, and clothes with all types of ornaments and nettipattam (headbands) and are 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 by panchavadyam, an association of trumpets, drums, pipes, and cymbals. The continuous display of dazzling fireworks during the 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 participants and tourists around the world.

2024 Date: April 20.