Thrissur Pooram

Thrissur Pooran, is celebrated in Thrissur (in Kerela)at Vadakkumnathan in the month of Medam (April) every year where the regaining deity is Lord Shiva. This 200 year old festival this year starts in Thrissur in Kerala on 1st May 2009.

Thrissur Pooram, the mother of all temple festivals in the state of Kerala held at the two devaswams- Paramekkavu Bhagavathy temple ( the Devi temple) and Thiruvambadi Sree Krishna temple ( the Krishna Temple). The main part of the Thrissur Festivals include the displays of parasols and processions by the two rival groups form Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi representing the two parts of Thrissur.While the main participants are Paramekkavu and Tiruvambadi, close to the Vadakunnathan temple.Also participating and known as 'Cherupooram' are the suburban temples at Kanimangalam, Karamukku, Choorakkattukara, Laloor, Ayyanthole, Neithilakkavu and Chembukkavu, Panamukkampilly, altogether 8 deities.The sprawling Thekkinkadi maidan, encircling the Vadakumnathan temple, is the main venue of the festival.

This festival is celebrated with a colourful procession and parade of caparisoned elephants, parasols, drums, display of pyro-techniques. During the festival season, Thrissur, popularly known as the temple town in Kerala turns into a town of colour and celebrations.The exhibition of the paraphernalia of elephant decorative, commonly known as ‘Aana Chamayal pradarsanam’, the spectacular show of ‘Kudamattom’ in which parasols of myriad numbers, designs and colours are exchanged by the people atop the elephants. An elephant also carries the "thidambu" ( means image of the deity).