Thousands converged at Thekkinkadu Maidan in Thrissur to celebrate the time-honoured Pooram festival. Believed to have started in the late 18th century, the festival has evolved into a socio-religious event. Naithilakavu Bhagavathi, one of the participants of the festival, walks out of the southern entrance of the Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple. This marks the ritualistic beginning of the Pooram
Photo: K.K. Najeeb
‘Aanachamayam’, the ornaments to decorate elephants participating in the Pooram, on display
Photo: K. K. Najeeb
A worker digs holes to place mortars on the eve of the ‘Sample vedikettu’ in Thrissur. Colourful fireworks form an important part of the festival
Photo: K.K.Najeeb
Fireworks light up the sky in Thrissur.
Photo: K. K. Mustafah
The ‘pandal’ erected at the three entrances to the temple premises gets a colourful lighting.
Photo: K. K.Mustafah
Thrissur’s love for elephants is legendary. Devaswoms compete with each other to present the most majestic elephants. More than 70 elephants, the most sought-after ones, feature in ceremonies at Thrissur Pooram. Photo shows a peek into the Chembada (an assembly of percussion performance) at Paramekkavu Temple.
Photo: Reuters
Decorated umbrellas, snow-white ‘venchamarams’ and peacock-feather ‘alavattoms’ create a vibrant backdrop to the mighty presence of the elephants. Photo shows ‘Kudamattam’ underway at Thrissur.
Photo: PTI
