Thrissur Pooram 2016
When:17th April 2016
Where: Thrissur, Kerala, India
UNESCO has described Thrissur Pooram as the most spectacular festival on this planet. If you have ever witnessed this event, you will know why. The Pooram of all Poorams, Thrissur Pooram is unarguably the biggest cultural and religious event celebrated in Kerala. It attracts people from all over the world. You can read more about the elephant festivals of Kerala here.
Festooned elephants stand in front of the Vadukkannathan Temple, Thrissur. Thrissur Pooram is an assault on your senses. You won’t forget its colors and sounds in a long time.
Thrissur Pooram is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Medam (April/May). This year, the festival falls on April 17. The pooram is organized in the premises of the Thrissur Vadakkunathan Temple, but Vadakkunnathan (Lord Shiva) merely witnesses the festivities. The major participants are the temples of Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi. They form the western and eastern side. Each side sees the participation of other smaller temples too.
At the heart of this festival is the friendly rivalry between Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu. They are both neighboring temples that want to outdo each other in the display of their style and pomp. The major highlights of Thrissur Pooram are the elephants, traditional temple orchestra and magnificent display of fireworks.
Thrissur Pooram is an 8-day event. The major festivities are reserved for the 7th and the 8th day. Thrissur and Palakkad districts of Kerala are famous for their temple festivals involving elephants. The Nenmara-Vallangi Vela is as colorful as Thrissur Pooram. You can find the 2016 calendar of elephant festivals here.
Major events on April 17, 2016 (the main pooram day)
Madhathil Varavu by Thiruvambady Temple (11.30 AM): Over 200 percussion artists come together to play various musical instruments like cymbal, trumpet and other traditional instruments. The exotic music that they create enthralls millions.
Ilanjithara melam by Paramekkavu Temple (2 PM):
This is another form of percussion orchestra. It is Paramekkavu side’s answer to Thiruvambadi’s Madathil Varavu. IIanjithara melam is played inside the Vadakkunathan temple. Instruments like drums, cymbals, pipes and trumpets are used.
Kudamattam (in the evening): Kudamattam is the most visually attractive element of this festival. It is also the one that the crowds enjoy the most. About 50 elephants participate in Thrissur Pooram. Each side has equal number of elephants in their procession.
Thrissur Pooram Kudamattam – the colorful parasols that the men hold above the elephants are changed numerous times during Kudamattam. This is the most visually appealing aspect of this festival.
After Illangithara Melam, both groups and their elephants will enter the temple through the western gate and come out through the southern gate. Afterwards they will stand in two rows facing each other at the Thekkinkadu Maidan. This is the real venue of the festival. Meanwhile drummers and other percussion artists will perform with competitive spirit. At this point the Kudamattam ceremony will begin. The men sitting on the elephants hold colorful sequined parasols. During the Kudamattam ceremony, both sides will keep changing the parasols competitively. Each side wants to display the most beautiful parasols. By the time this ceremony ends, they will have changed the parasols numerous times. This is one of the most beautiful aspects of this festival.
Vedikkettu (fireworks):
Thrissur Pooram is known for its brilliant display of fireworks. It is held early in morning the day after the festival (April 18, 2016) around 2:00 AM. Again each side wants to outdo the other so they burst various innovative fireworks.
Festooned elephants and the beautiful parasols held over them, brilliant display of fireworks and the famous Ilanjithara Melam make Thrissur Pooram an unforgettable experience. The best elephants belonging to various temples of Kerala participate in this festival.
The whole of Thrissur and its neighboring places assemble at the Thekkinkadu Maidan on the day of Thrissur Pooram. Thrissur Pooram also sees the participation of numerous foreigners.
Thrissur Pooram is a 7-day festival. It starts 7 days in advance with the ceremonial hoisting of the festival flag. There is a sample display of fireworks on the 4th day. Celebration on the 7th day starts early in the morning with decorated elephants from the Thiruvambadi Temple and Paramekkavu Temple marching towards the Vadukunnathan temple. The main elephant of each group will the carry the idols of Lord Krishna (the presiding deity of Thiruvambadi temple) and Paramekkavu Bhagavathi (the presiding deity of Paramekkavu side). It is believed that Krishna and Bhagavathi visit Vadakkunnathan Temple on the day of Thrissur Pooram to pay their tributes to Vadakkunnathan (Lord Shiva).
If you enjoy the temple orchestra of Kerala, Thrissur Pooram is a feast for your ears. Thiruvambadi side is the first to start the orchestra (Madathil Varavu) at 11.30 am. In the afternoon at around 2 pm, Paramekkavu side will begin their orchestra under an Ilanchi tree. This is called Ilanchithara Melam and its lasts for three hours. Even the elephants can be seen enjoying the music by shaking their ears. After Kudamattam, the elephants retreat to their respective temples. Fireworks begin early next morning at around 2 am and last up to 3 hours. The festival comes to a close by afternoon.
Thrissur Pooram is a non-stop 36 hour festival that starts at 6 am and ends the next day around afternoon. If you want to watch all the events, you will have to stay up all night. In any case, if you decide to stay in Thrissur, your chances of getting a good night’s sleep are rather slim. If sleep is important to you, bring ear plugs.
How to reach Thrissur
Thrissur is easily accessible from all parts of Kerala. The nearest international airport is at Nedumbassery, Kochi. It is about 55 kms from Thrissur. From Kochi, you can take a train or a bus/taxi. The Thrissur railway station is just 350 meters from the Temple premises. If you are traveling from Kochi by road, the journey will take about 2 hours. There is another airport at Karippur, Kozhikode and it takes about 3 ½ hours to reach Thrissur from Kozhikode by road.
Thrissur pooram is an extravaganza of culture, religion, arts, music and colors. It is an occasion when the best of culture and art is showcased. Come and watch it. It is an experience you will cherish for a lifetime. It is also a festival that celebrates the secular nature of the Kerala society. While this is a temple festival, Muslims and Christians also actively participate in it. They can’t enter the temples, but that is not an issue at all, because the celebration takes place outside the temple premises where anyone can enter.