Thrissur Pooram

Thrissur Pooram

                                          (https://images.app.goo.gl/5caqYGnKgxC8K6Rg6)

★What

Thrissur Pooram, often termed as the festival of festivals in Kerala is held in Thrissur, a northern district of Kerala. The word pooram literally means group or meeting. The tradition has that every year the Gods and Goddesses residing at temples in the neighbouring regions come together for a day of celebration at the famous Vadakkumnatha Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. This coming together is led from the front by Goddess Bhagavati, and Lord Krishna, presiding deities of Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi temples, located close to the Vadakkumnatha Temple. The sprawling Thekkinkadu grounds around the Vadakkumnatha Temple become the rendezvous for gods and goddesses from adjoining temples

★When

The Thrissur Pooram is celebrated in the month of Medom according to Malayalam calendar. This falls on April-May months.

★History

Thrissur Pooram was initially introduced by erstwhile King of Cochin, Raja Rama Varma, also famously known as Sakthan Thampuran. Before Thrissur Pooram, there was another grand one day temple festival held at Aaratupuzha, 12km south of Thrissur. Temples situated in and around thrissur used to participate in this festival. But, one day due to heavy rain, they arrived late and was denied entry to the festival to uphold the supremacy of Namboodiris, which is the dominant Brahmin caste in Kerala.

When Raja Rama Varma came to know about this incident, HE took it upon himself to hold a more extragavant and grand festival to make up for this incident. HE also directed the two main temples Paramekkavu Temple and Thiruvambadi Temple(which were never under the Namboodiris control) to help other participating temples.

This secular nature of the festival and contribution by Thrissur Pooram temple festival is evident, as people of all caste, colour or religion participate in this festival in every way possible. It is said that most of the pandal works are crafted by Muslim community and the materials for the umbrellas for ‘Kudamattom’ are offered by the churches and their members.

                                         (https://images.app.goo.gl/PgwFJeUmFT4sQCS18)

★How

The procession taking the representation of the Goddess of Thiruvambadi to Brahmaswam Mutt; arrival of procession to the mutt accompanied by panchavadyam called madathil varavu; the pooram setout of the temple by noon and the one-hour long chembada melam (melam means orchestra); Ilanjithara melam (orchestra held in front of the Ilanji tree); Thekkotirakkam; meeting of the two temple groups of Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu; Kudamattom (exchange of colorful parasols), the small-scale fireworks; the panchavadyam (traditional temple orchestra) at night; the major fireworks at early morning; the pakal pooram held on the next day; the fireworks following it and finally the conclusion of pooram festivities with the ceremonial departure called upacharam cholli piriyal are the main events of the pooram festival.

The goddesses of Thiruvambadi And Paramekkavu are believed to be taking part in the pooram. The presiding deity at Thiruvambadi is Lord Krishna, it is the second in importance of the Goddess Bhagavati that takes part in the pooram. There are also eight other temples taking part, but some exclusive rights as a part of poorly vested with Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi temples. Those rights include rights to the path surrounding the Vadakkumnathan temple and also fireworks and exchange of parasols.

The festivities on the main day with the arrival of poorams from eight temples. By 6.30 in the morning, the first pooram of Kanimangalam Sastha temple will arrive at the Vadakkumnathan temple, followed by others like Karamukku Bhagavathy, Choorakattukavu Bhagavathy, Naithilakattu Bhagavathy, Laloor Bhagavathy, Panayckambilli Sastha, Ayanthol Karthiyayani Bhagavathy, and Chembookavu.