Thrissur Pooram

‘Pooram’ literary means a congregation. Folklore had it that,every year the deities of the neighbouring hamlet’s meet at the Vadakkunnathan temple. On that day, the heavenly hosts bring the heaven down on earth drowning the land and skies in joyful time. Ten temple participate in Thrissur Pooram which is held in Thrissur, a small town in the Northern part of Kerala. For the town of Thrissur the sleepless nights start even before the Pooram. Fairs and exhibitions are the another interesting part. Which lend a touch of additional flicker to the ever so engrossing Pooram colours. The dazzling elephant adornment exhibition is a rare one of its variety and pulls out swarms of visitors every year. The dawn of Pooram day at the Thiruvambady Temple around 7 in the morning a sub deity goddess Yogamaya Devi starts her journey to the Vadakkunnathan Temple. Eight other celestials from numerous temples in the circumstances also set off to the Vadakkumnathan Temple. The final convergence of all the many Poorams from each temple becomes a virtual feast for the eyes and a symphony beatific for the ears. The cavalcade from the Thiruvambady Temple ends at the Brahmaswam Madham for particular rituals. From there the procession moves on to the Vadakkunnathan Temple with the addition of Panchavadyam, a traditional orchestra. At the Paramekkavu Temple by noon the goddess of this temple sets out to the Vadakkumnathan Temple. Once the goddess comes out the kudamaattam( The changing umbrellas) decked with finery commences in front of the Paramekkavu Temple. The Elanjithara Melam is one of the main allurement of the Pooram. It welcomes goddess Paramekkavu Bhagavathy or her annual visit to Vadakkumnathan Temple. From the southern Gopuram, the procession from Paramekkavu emerges guided by the one from Thiruvambady. The most captivating sight of the Pooram is the competition of changing the display of the decorative umbrellas. The unfathomably crafted decorative umbrellas bestow the evening its rainbow shades. The Pooram celebrations that begin in the morning continue until the noon of the next day. The fascinating fireworks signs the grand finale of the Pooram and is a proper tribute to its glorious unity of sight and sound. All who bore viewers to the festive ceremonies join together to share a meek ritualistic meal, the poorakanji. The curtain falls , mortal and immortal alive for another joyful year and the promise of another sumptuous Pooram. Thrissur Pooram is one of Kerala’s largest poorams.It was cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic but this year Thrissur is busy to set the festival back and it will be done more meticulously. The people of Kerala is very happy about it and everyone is waiting for the best time to reach. Manjima Nambiar 1st semester, Department of communication and journalism