Thrissur Pooram: Mother Of All Pooram

Thrissur pooram, the most eye-catching festival of Kerala , is a cultural highlight par-excellence, celebrated on ‘Pooram nakshathram’ in the Malayalam month of ‘Medam’ (April, May) It is considered as the ‘Mother of all Poorams’ and is the meeting place of all arts. It lasts for about 36 hours. People across all barriers of religion and caste conducted and participated in Thrissur pooram.

The festival was introduced by Sakthan Thamburan the former Maharaja of Kochi, Ramavarma(1775- 1790) . Celebrations are staged at Thekkinkadu grounds surrounding the ‘Vadakkunatha’ temple. Thrissur poorm attracts large number of devotees and viewers from all the parts of state and even from outside. The most impressive processions are those from the ‘Krishna’ temple at Thiruvambadi and ‘Devi’ temple at Paramekkavu which are quite significant event for their devotees. The pooram festival is also well known for the awe- inspiring display of fire works. Fire works start in the early hours and the glittering display lasts three to four hours.
TEN DEITIES
Ten deities from the neighboring temples pay obeisance to the presiding deity of Thrissur. Chief participants are Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi. Other participants called ‘Cherupoorams’ include Kanimangalam, Karamukku, Choorakattukara, Laloor, Ayyanthole, Nethilakkavu, Chembukavu, and Panamukkampilly.
BEHIND THE STORY & END OF SUPREMACY OF NAMBOOTHIRIES
There is little history to the festival which says that before Thrissur pooram, a one- day temple festival was detained at Aratupuzha Twelfth (12 k.m) south of the Thrissur. Temples is and around. thrissur were regular participants of the religious exercise until they were once denied entry by the chief of the Peruvannan area of Cherpu, known for its Namboodiri supremacy. Namboodiries were considered the formost Bhramin caste in Kerala. Prince ‘RAMAVARMA’ the architect of Thrissur, decided to put an end to Namboodiri supremacy and alleviate the offended confidence of his subjects.
‘RAMAVARMA’ undertook the task pf reconditioning ‘Vadakkunatha’ temple which was earlier bounded by high walls and was controlled by Namboodiries. Raja Ramavarma to thrissur where they could pay obeisance to Lord (sri) Vadakkunathan the deity of the vadakkunathan temple .Further he directed the main temples od Thrissur- Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu - to extend all help and support to these temples. Ten deities from the neighboring temples pay obeisance to the presiding deity of Thrissur and only spectator of the pooram event, Vadakkunatha temple situated in the heart.
EZHUNALLIPPU
The festival extends for 36 hours beginning with Ezhunnellippu of the Kanimangalam Shasta in the morning, followed by the Ezhunnellippu’of the other six minor temples on the pooram day. Thiruvambadi temples to the Vadakkunathan temple. It may be noted that although this grand festival is known as Thrissur pooram, it is in fact the conclusion of the eight- day utsavams.
RITUALS& REVELS
Major participant of the pooram, Paramekkavu& Thiruvambadi provide a spectacular show of best of kerala art &culture to the on lookers as they display their artistic ability. Each group proves their own abilities. Colossal and colorful processions are organized by temples, starting from Krishna temple and Devi temple. The group enters the Vadakkunatha temple through the western gate of the temple. Both the groups stand face to face and the competition become open.
PANCHAVADYAM & PANDIMELAM
A main attraction of the pooram is ‘Panchavadyam’. Panchavadyam, a combination of five percussion and wind instruments is to be felt and enjoyed. Over 200 artists from various disciplines like Thimila, Maddalam, Trumpet, Cymbal and Edakka unleash their talent and leave the audience spell bound. Time of noon is reserved for another event called Pandimelam, in which artists holding mastery of Drum, Drum pets, Pipe and Cymbal participate.
ANACHAYAM PRADARSANAM
A convey of caparisoned elephants is the most captivating aspect of Thrissur pooram.On the pooram evening, two lines of 13 decorated elephants face each other, on the ground south to the temple . The best elephants are selected for the convey and given a hugemake over. They are painted, bejeweled and given abeautiful satin robe. Colorful silk parasols are the important part of their getup. Each of the majestic pachyderm gets the honor of bearing an umbrella holder, a ‘peacock fan(Alavattom) carrier and a yak- tail fly whisk wielder(Venchamaram).This exhibition of the paraphernalia of elephants decoratives is called ‘Anachayam pradarsanam’
KUDAMATTOM
Space between the two lines of elephants is taken up by the orchestra consisting of precussion and wind instruments. Just wheb orchestra reaches its crescendo; the parasols are changed with an even more colourful and exquiste one. The ceremonycalled ‘Kudamattom’.This is very exciting for the crowds who applaud whole heatedly every time the parasols change. The deities of different temples arrive on the regally decorated elephants. The sight of the meeting of the different ‘GODS’ is the brilliant and memorable one.
A SPECTACULAR FIRE WORKS
The festivals conclude with the dazzling display of fire works. The bursting of crackers continous till the wee hours of the next morning. Shows by Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu Devasom are the most reputed and popular of all. They present many innovative patterns and varieties of fire works which make spectators going raptures. this famous and mighty display of the magnificent display of fire works add to the popularity of the pooram festival Thus the festivals which begins in the early hours of the pooram morning concludes at the break of the dawn, the next day on a cheerful note. Pooram festival.
THRISSUR POORAM FEST IN CHENNAI
The confederation of Tamilnadu Malyalee Associations (CTMA) was reenacting the famous Thrissur pooram in Chennai for the first time on Sunday, September 30, 2007 at St. George’s AI Higher Secondary School, Poonamalee Road. A herd of eleven caparisoned life-like elephants were displayed with full decoration including silk umbrellas Peacock fan (Alavattom) Yak tail fly whiskers(Venchamaram) colorful silk parasols was show for ‘KUDAMATTOM’ . A team of 250 artists from Thrisuur were playing the melam, ‘PANCHAVADYAM’ and ‘ELANCHITHARAMELAM’. Finally the exquisite display of fire crackers was very amazing.

PROMINENT FEATURE OF THRISUR POORAM
The most striking feature of the Thrissur pooram is its very secular nature. The Muslim and Christian communities actively take part in it and they play a very prominent role in the very conduct of the festival Most of the pandals are the craft work of the experts from the Muslim community. For the two days of the festival, the CMS School owned by the north Kerala Dioceses of CST church and located on the Western part of the Swaraj Round, becomes very virtually the Head quarters of the Thiruvambadi Devasom. The temple elephants are tied in the school compound. The ‘ANACHAMAYA PRADARSANAM’ is also held here. The parasols for the ‘KUDAMATTOM’ are offered by the churches and their members. At time when the secular fabric of the Indian society is slowly decayed, one can not be narrow minded to the relevance of Thrissur pooram, the conduct of which should come worthy of emulation to other festivals in the country.

Author: Smitha AT