Kerala celebrates Thrissur Pooram festival
Thrissur, Apr 16: Thousands of people, including foreign tourists witnessed the enchanting ''Kodamattam'', changing of colourful umbrellas, the highlight of the Thrissur Pooram festival at Thekkinkadu Maidan here today.
The
30-hour-long
celebrations
began
in
the
morning
with
eight
small
'poorams'from
eight
temples
in
the
outskirts
of
the
town.
The
''poorams''
with
five
caparisoned
elephants,
to
the
accompaniment
of
music
converged
at
the
Maidan
and
paid
obeisance
to
the
deity
of
'Vadakkumnathan'
Temple.
'Paramekkavu'
and
'Thiruvambadi'
temples,
the
main
participants
in
the
pooram
festival,
made
a
spirited
show
at
the
pooram.
The 'Thiruvambadi' pooram started from their temple early morning and moved slowly to 'naduvilal madom' and later proceeded to 'Sreemoolasthanam' of the Vadakkumnathan Temple', to the accompaniment of the traditional 'panchavadya'. The 'Paramekkavu' side started shortly after noon with the musical 'pandimelam' (Elanjithara melam).
The main ''pooram'' called the 'big pooram' was held in the evening before sunset with 15 caparisoned elephants from 'Paramekkavu' and 'Thiruvambadi' temples sides emerging from the southern gopuram of the 'Vadakkumnathan' Temple. The 'confrontation' of the two sides with ornamental umbrellas changing every few miniutes was witnessed by a sea of humanity.
The small 'poorams' will continue till early morning tomorrow and will be followed by the three-hour long fireworks.
UNI