Thrissur Pooram | 02 May 2020

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.

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.