Thrissur Pooram, one of the most vibrant and colourful festivals of Kerala, saw tens of thousands of people gathered at Thekkinkadu Maidan to witness the spectacular event and take part in the festivities on Sunday.
The festival kicked off with the arrival of the Kanimangalam Sastha at Vadakkumnathan temple, followed by various other smaller poorams. After the Madathil Varavu Panchavadyam performance, the Chempada Melam took place in front of the Paramekkavu temple. The Ilanjithara Melam, headed by Kongadu Madhu, was also a major attraction.
The Kootti Ezhunnallippu and Kudamattam are the main highlights of the Thrissur Pooram. Both temples showcased different types of umbrellas during the event held in the evening, adding to the grandeur of the festival.
During the famed 'Kudamattam', which began shortly after six in the evening, the Thiruvambady side stole the show with a display of an impressive illuminated cutout of Argentinian football legend Lionel Messi holding the World Cup.
Kudamattam is a change of colourful ornamental silk parasols in quick succession by people mounted atop the elephants.
Besides the different colours, patterns and layers on the umbrellas, there were illuminated cutouts of various deities including Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvathy, Lord Krishna among others.
The display of 'nettipattams' (the golden caparisons) 'venchamaram' (ornamental fan made of peacock feathers) and 'muthukkuda' (decorative umbrellas) atop the jumbos were a feast to the crowd which was enthralled by the traditional music ensembles, 'panchavadyam and pandimelam', by an array of percussionists.
At 10.30 pm, Chotanikara Nandappa Marar led the Panchavadyam of Paramekkavu, and the fireworks were scheduled for 3 am on Monday morning. The festival concluded by Monday noon, marking another successful celebration of this iconic festival.
The two-centuries-old Thrissur Pooram had its origin in 1798, through a royal edict of the then Raja Rama Varma, popularly known as Shakthan Thampuran, a powerful ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Cochin.
The edict entrusted two local temples -- Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady -- as the main sponsors of the festivities to be conducted in a competitive spirit.
Besides the main poorams by the two Devaswoms, small poorams from nearby temples also participated in the festivities, which will end late Sunday night with a massive fireworks display.
The Thrissur Pooram is not just a festival; it is a celebration of the rich cultural heritage and traditions of Thrissur. The festival brings together people from all walks of life and different parts of the world to witness its grandeur and beauty. This year's festival was yet another reminder of the unique charm and vibrancy of the Thrissur Pooram.
With PTI inputs
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