Thrissur Pooram Festival

The Thrissur Pooram is the most famous of all the Pooram festivals and has been celebrated for over two centuries. The festival entails a spectacular procession of caparisoned elephants and enthralling percussion performances over 36 hours, beginning at 6 am and stretching to noon the next day. The festival is undoubtedly a rare treat for the eyes and ears.

Unlike most other temple festivals, Thrissur Pooram is participated in and conducted by people across all barriers of religion and caste.

Time of the Thrissur Pooram

The Thrissur Pooram is celebrated in the month of Medom according to the Malayalam calendar. It falls in the April-May months.

Thrissur Pooram Date 2023

With great enthusiasm, the festival is held from May 10 to May 11 in Thrissur, Kerala.

Description of Thrissur Pooram

Adhering to the medieval Peruvanam or Pooram tradition, the festival is confined to the temples of Devi (goddess), Sastha (divine combination of Shiva and Vishnu), and ten other deities from the neighboring temples pay obeisance to the presiding deity of Thrissur. The only spectator of the Pooram events is Lord Shiva at the Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple, situated in the heart of the town. Apart from Lord Shiva, the principal divine participants are Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi, close to the Vadakkunnathan Temple.

Venue of Thrissur Pooram Festival 2023

Also participating and known as “Cherupooram” are the suburban temples at Kanimangalam, Karamukku, Choorakkattukara, Lalor, Ayyanthole, Neithilakkavu, Chembukkavu, and Panamukkampilly, which takes the number of deities to 8. The sprawling Thekkinkadi maidan, encircling the Vadakumnathan temple, is the festival’s main venue.

History Behind Thrissur Pooram

This festival was introduced by Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of the erstwhile Cochin State, in the late eighteenth century and is now the most famous festival in Kerala with the largest fan following from all parts of the country.

Thrissur Pooram Celebrations

The Pooram Festival is celebrated by two rival groups representing the two divisions of Thrissur Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi, challenging and vowing to overshadow each other with a more magnificent display of fireworks. Each group is allowed to display a maximum of fifteen elephants. The parties keep no stone unturned to secure the best elephants in South India and the most artistic parasols, to adorn the elephants. The celebrations begin early in the morning and last till the break of dawn the next day.

The procession of Thiruvambadi Pooram to the grounds of Vadakkumnatha Temple and back is not only essential but also quite enlivening with the marvelous and enchanting effect of the Panchavadyam, a combination of five percussion and wind instruments, to be felt and enjoyed.

Apart from the excellent elephant march, percussion, and musical performances, the pooram festival is also well known for the magnificent display of fireworks. Fireworks start early, and the dazzling display lasts three to four hours.

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