Kerala is a state brimming with ancient traditions. Thrissur Pooram is known as being one of the heights of Kerala tradition. The spectacle is also known as “Poorangalude Pooram”, meaning the Festival of Festivals.
The festival unifies the temples around the Vadakkunnathan Temple and puts on a display of praise to Lord Shiva through traditions like Kudamattam, Ilanjithara Melam, and many more.
The festival is famous for its processions that consist of dozens of elephants and hundreds of devoted musicians.
Fun fact: This festival is most well-known for its innovative fireworks displays.
Raja Ram Varma was the Maharaja of Cochin in 1798. He was fondly known by his people as Shakthan Thampuran. That year, heavy rain delayed devotees from Thrissur on their journey to the Arattupuzha Pooram. When they arrived late, they were denied entry, so they approached Shakthan Thampuran to resolve this.
Shakthan Thampuran saw an opportunity to start a new tradition. He decided to unify the 10 temples around the Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur in praise to Lord Vadakkunnathan (Lord Shiva) and invited the temples to bring forth deities in celebration of the festival. This festival would go on to become Thrissur Pooram.
Since its creation, Thrissur Pooram has been a mainstay in Kerala culture. Forming part of centuries of tradition, it is also a celebration of the legacy of the great Shakthan Thampuran.
Shakthan Thampuran divided the participating temples into two groups, known as the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu sides.
The festival officially begins with "Kodiyettam," or flag hoisting, seven days before Thrissur Pooram. This ceremony involves all the participating temples and includes a light fireworks show to mark the commencement of the festivities.
Four days after the flag hoisting, the first round of fireworks, known as "Sample Vedikettu," takes place. This one-hour show features innovative pyrotechnic displays by both the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu sides.
One of the highlights of Thrissur Pooram is the decoration of elephants with "Nettipattam" (golden caparisons), "Chamayam" (elephant accoutrements), and other ornate accessories. These decorations are hand-made every year by the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu temples.
The main Pooram events begin with the "Kanimangalam Sasthavu Ezhunnellippu" procession early in the morning, followed by processions from six other temples. A major event is the "Madathil Varavu" melam, which features over 200 artists playing traditional instruments such as the thimila, madhalam, trumpet, cymbal, and edakka.
Inside the Vadakkunnathan Temple, the "Ilanjithara Melam" starts at 2 PM, featuring a spectacular performance with drums, trumpets, pipes, and cymbals.
A key attraction of Thrissur Pooram is "Kudamattom," where the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu groups compete by exchanging colourful and intricately crafted umbrellas atop the elephants. This event is a visual spectacle and a crowd favourite.
The main fireworks display, known as "Vedikettu," takes place in the early morning of the seventh day. This grand pyrotechnic show is held in the heart of Thrissur city at Thekkinkadu Maidan and is renowned nationwide. Both Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu compete to present the most impressive fireworks, with winners being declared
the next day.
The festival concludes with the "Pakal Pooram" on the seventh day. The farewell ceremony, known as "Upacharam Cholli Piriyal," involves the idols from the Thiruvambady Sri Krishna Temple and Paramekkavu Bhagavathy Temple being taken back to their respective temples. The event ends with a final round of fireworks called "Pakal Vedikkettu."
The legends of the Vadakkunnathan Temple suggest it was founded by Parashurama. When Parashurama threw his axe to unveil the land that would become Kerala, he requested Lord Shiva to establish his presence in this new land.
A Shiva Linga was discovered by Parashurama beneath the grove of a banyan tree, and it would later become the centrepiece of the Vadakkunnathan temple. The area around the temple would later become present-day Thrissur.
The temple is the home of Lord Vadakkunnathan (Lord Shiva). During and after the rule of Shakthan Thampuran, the temple has been the site of countless Poorams. The temple is covered in mural paintings depicting scenes from the Mahabharatha and has been declared a national monument.
The Vadakkunnathan Temple is the hub of Thrissur Pooram, and it has been revered for centuries. MemoryTrain has preserved the timeless memory of Thrissur Pooram with a commemorative piece that depicts the iconic Temple Gate of Vadakkunnathan Temple.
Made from high-quality resin, The Temple Gate will serve as a fond reminder of the temple and the festivities of Thrissur Pooram. It is designed to be a conversation piece and can be a great starting point for reliving your memories about age-old traditions and amazing festivities.
We have another product in our MemoryTrain ,that beautifully captures the essence of nature, evoking the serene charm of our beloved Thrissur.
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