Kerala is prepared to observe and take part in the 36-hour-long Thrissur Pooram, also referred to as the mother of all poorams, on Sunday. This year’s festival will feature ten temples.
On Pooram day, the celebrations at Thekkinkadu Maidanam begin at 7.30 a.m. with ‘Khataka Poorangal’ aka subsidiary Pooram processions from close temples. At 11 a.m., there will be a performance by artists accompanied by instruments such as thimila, madhalam, trumpet, cymbal, and edakka. The ‘Bhagavati’ aka goddess procession, begins at 12 p.m.
The percussion events begin with Panchavadyam, a five-instrument orchestra, and continue with Chempada Melam, a special performance with traditional percussion instruments, before concluding with the popular Ilanjithara Melam, a gathering of percussion performance artists held next to the Ilanji tree (bullet wood tree) in the courtyard of the Vadakkunnathan Temple.
After the Ilanjithara melam near the end of the pooram, both the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi groups enter the temple through the western gate, exit through the southern gate (Thekkottirakkam), and array themselves face to face in distant places. The ‘Kudamaattam’ ceremony, one of the most vibrant portions of the Pooram, will begin at 5 p.m. Both sides will display perfectly constructed parasols, challenging one another to beat the other.
The main event, ‘Vedikkettu’ means fireworks, takes place on May 1 at 3 p.m. The ‘Pakal Pooram’ or ‘Day Pooram’ begins at 8 a.m., the ‘Upacharam Chollal’ ritual concludes at 12 p.m., and the Pakal Vedikkettu fireworks show begins at 12.45 a.m.
The Poora Vilambaram (statement of the opening of the Thrissur Pooram) was celebrated on Saturday, with the opening of the Thekke Gopura Nada (south entrance of the Vadakkunnathan Temple). There are various events to look out for in Thrissur, ranging from Pooram Pradarshanam to Ana Chamaya Pradarshanam to elephant fitness testing. At 7.15 p.m. until the day of Pooram, a special laser show will be performed on the newly unveiled 55-foot Hanuman statue at Seetha Ramaswamy Temple in Punkunnam.
Women and those with disabilities will be able to witness the ‘Kudamattam’ in a separate area. To acquire entrance to the location, the differently abled should have submitted applications in advance. There are 25 parking spaces available for visitors arriving in their own vehicles.
Considering the extreme heat, the health department decided to send a 500-person team. There will be medical crews and ambulances at five locations in and around the Swaraj Round.
