Flags up for Thrissur Pooram, festival in Kerala

Thrissur (Kerala): Thrissur Pooram, Kerala"s most popular festival, began with the hoisting of flags at two temples here on Monday.

Known as the pooram of poorams ( festival of festivals) , Thrishur pooram will happen on May 3. Caparisoned elephants, panchavadyam, amazing fireworks… pooram promises to be a visual treat to people. No other festival draws such large number of people for a single event.

The biggest of all festivals in the state, 'Thissur Pooram' is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The festival commences with the arrival of small elephant processions, which carry their respective deities from various temples in different villages across Thrissur, and culminates at the grounds of Vadakkunnathan Temple.

The temple festival is marked by spectacular procession of caparisoned elephants and enthralling percussion performance.

Ceremonial flag hoisting at the two main participating temples of Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu took place on Monday.

The festival is also known for the magnificent display of fireworks.

The word "Pooram" literally means a group or a meeting. It is believed that the gods and goddesses meet for a day of celebration, which falls in the month of April-May every year.

The local legends say that the Thrissur Pooram was started in 1803, and over the years this festival has become a mega cultural event involving all sections of the people in the city cutting across the barriers of caste, religion and class. It now finds place even in the list of national festivals.

The city has already become crowded with the Pooram fans hailing from the district but now settled all over the country, and the coinciding of the festival with usual annual academic holidays seems to have given them an opportunity to make it part of their regular yearly tour programmes.

The festival is also one of the major tourist attractions in the state.

OneIndia News