Important Facts For Prelims
Thrissur Pooram
- 02 May 2020
- 2 min read
Why in News
For the first time since its inception, Thrissur Pooram will be observed with rituals within the temple premises with just a few participants.
- This was done in the wake of the lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Key Points
- Thrissur Pooram is an annual Hindu festival held in Kerala. It is celebrated on the day when the star sign “Pooram” occurs in the Malayalam month of “medam (April-May)”.
- The festival was the brainchild of Raja Rama Varma, famously known as Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of Cochin (1790–1805).
- Pooram officially begins with Kodiyettam (flag hoisting ceremony) in which all the participating temples of the festival are present.
- The Pooram consists of ten temples in and around Thrissur and is considered to be a ceremony where these deities come together to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva at the Vadakkunnathan Temple, located in the centre of the town.
- One of the hallmarks of the festival is the percussion ensemble consisting of traditional instruments like chenda, maddalam, edakka, thimila and kombu.
- The seventh day of the pooram is the last day. It is also known as “Pakal Pooram”.
- Pooram, though a Hindu ritual, has grown to encompass all religious and cultural strains of Kerala. Both the Muslim and Christian communities participate in the festival in a variety of ways highlighting secular credentials of the state.
