THRISSUR POORAM - Prologue

Life in Kerala is punctuated by the annual festivals dedicated to village deities. These post-harvest festivals are an occasion to break out of the monotony of daily routine. The size and importance of this festival may vary from small gathering to mega spectacle like Thrissur pooram. There are other Pooram festivals in and around the central Kerala which may stand better than Thrissur pooram in some respect .But the beauty of Thrissur pooram is in every respect Thrissur pooram stands better than the best.

The Thrissur Pooram is considered to be the Mother of all Poorams, a culture highlight that towers above all other festivals .Thrissur pooram is a festival unique in its pageantry, magnitude and participation. It is not a mere temple festival in its strict sense but at the same time it is the festival of festivals of Kerala.

The Thrissur Pooram, celebrated in the Malayalam month Of Medom (April-May) is a grand assembly of Gods and Goddesses in and around Thrissur. These Gods and Goddesses make their visit to the Vadakumnathan Temple premises on caparisoned elephants accompanied by grand ensembles of Chenda melam and pancha vadyam.

The Ten participants of the Pooram are the Thiruvambady Bhagavathi and Paramekkavu Bhagavathi, Nethilakkavu Bhagavathi, Karamukku Bhagavathi, Ayyanthole Bhagavathi, Laloor Bhagavathi, Choorakkattukavu Bhagavathi, Chembukkavu Bhagavathi, Panamukkumpally Sastha, Kanimangalam Sastha. The processions and rituals of each of these deities follow a very strict itinerary, scheduled in such a way that the tempo of the Pooram celebrations – 36 hrs non-stop- is maintained without any loss of energy.
 

HISTORY

Very many stories are told and retold about the origin of Thrissur pooram. Thrissur pooram is 200 plus years young and before that the “Arattupuzha pooram” conducted at Arattupuzha , some 14 km away from Vadakumnathan was the biggest temple festival of Kerala All the temples participating Thrissur pooram and Kuttanellore pooram was the regular participant of ”Arattupuzha pooram” .Once these temples were delayed to attend the festival due to heavy rain or so and then chief of Peruvanam Gramam denied the entry .As an act of reprisal Thrissur Naduvazhi the chief poojari of vadakunnathan , known as Yogadiripad and Kuttanellur Naduvazhi started the pooram in Thrissur. Later due to some reasons the Kuttanellur Naduvazhi disassociated the celebration at Thrissur. Since the withdrawal of Kuttanellur Naduvazhi the glamour of the pooram was lost and the two Naduvazhies’ began to treat each other as enemies. It was in this juncture the former ruler of Cochin, His Highness Ramavarma Raja, popularly known as Sakthan Thampuran (1751-1805 AD) became the Maharaja of Kochi. Sakthan Thampuran unified the 10Temples situated around Vadakumnathan temple and took steps to celebrate Thrissur Pooram as a mass festival. Sakthan Thampuran ordained two groups western group and Eastern group. He named western group as Thiruvambady consisting of Kanimangalam, Laloor, Ayyanthole, Nethilakkavu and Thiruvambady temple (a private devaswom temple). The eastern side called as Paramekkavu side in addition to Paramekkavu temple (a private devaswom temple ) Karamukku, Chembukavu. Choorakottukavu and Panamukkamppilly. The Maharaja re - organized the annual festival in its present form in front of Vadakumnathan. Sakthan Thampuran also directed the main temples at Thrissur, Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady to extent all support and help to other poorams which are coming from 2 to 10 KM. away from Vadakumnathan temple. It is attributed that the event management of the whole pooram was chalked out by His Highness Sakthan Thampuran.
The festival is a congregation of various temple deities in Vadakumnathan temple premises. During ancient times Thrissur Pooram used to be celebrated with the full involvement of devotees with their physical involvement and voluntary services. The financial obligations were very little due to the availability of large number of artists and artisans locally. Now activities connected with pooram festivals has to be maintained with the help of paid artists and artisans etc., resulting in large expenditure which used to be beyond the capacity of the conveners .The expenditure for arranging , accompaniments and other accessories, hiring of beautiful elephants, artists for melam, panchavadyam for 8days goes into lakhs and lakhs of rupees. As in older times the meager donations from the Thattakams is not sufficient to meet the huge expenses. Large scale contributions were given to communities to conduct pooram with great pomp and show during the time of Maharajas. This help was also stopped and government is not helping Thrissur Pooram Celebration Committee. In this circumstance luckily some new avenues have opened up to facilitate funds for the conduct of pooram with its old pomp and show beautifully and seriously.
The pooram is not only celebrated and conducted by the people from the surrounding locality but cuts cross all the manmade barriers of religion and caste.

THE CURTAIN RAISERS

The city is in jubilant mood since the opening of the pooram Exhibition , the tempo starts with the flag hosting and in full spirit from day before yesterday of the Pooram day. It is in this day the sample fire works is displayed in the vadakunnathan maidan. This is the curtain raiser to the real display of pyrotechnics of the pooram. Started as a sample testing of the fire works for alternation/ modification, it has turned to an event attracting very huge crowd.
Both Paramekkavu & Thiruvambady started to arrange their respective Parasols, Ornaments etc neatly in their stores which started to attract people in a large scale. Now it turned another curtain raiser to Thrissur Pooram.
This “chamayakazcha”( Viewing the display of decorations &ornaments) is another amazing experience of pooram which is opened for 36 (last two nights and day)
Ritually there is another curtain raiser to Thrissur pooram. The one among the Constituent Poorams
Nethilakkavu Bhagavathi presents herself in front of southern gopuram of Vadakumnathan in the early hours the previous day of the pooram and announces the presence with blowing conch. The gopuram will be opened and Devi enters. It is to be noted that this is the only one occasion the goupuram will be opened in the whole year and will close after the glittering kudamattam .Nethilakkavu bhagavathi pays her respect to lord Vadakumnathan and comes out through western gopuram. There Devi announces the “pooram” by blowing the conch three times at Nilapaduthara. (“Nilapaduthara – about 50 meters north of the western goupuram.) . Earlier this ritual was on the eve of “Kovilakathu pooram” which was conducted the day before yesterday of pooram.

THRISSUR POORAM - THE FORMAT

The participant poorams are divided into two parts namely “Paramekkavu side” and “Thiruvambady side”. The Paramekkavu side consists of besides “Paramekkavu Bagavathy

1) Pookattikkara-Karamukku Baghavathy 2) Choorakattukara Baghavathy 3)Chempukkavu Baghavathy 4) Panemukkumpilly Sastha. Besides Thiruvambady Baghavathy, the Thiruvambady side is having 1) Ayyanthole Baghavathy 2) Nethilakkavu Baghavathy 3) Laoor bagavathy 4) Kanimangalam Sastha.

The Schedule : The 36 hour long pooram follow strict time schedule and prescribed route to pay obeisance to Lord Vadakumnathan. The day starts with “Kanimangalam sastha” entering to vadakumnathan through southern gopuram and exits through western goupuram While chembookavu baghavathy, panemukkumpilly sastha and Paramekkavu bagavathy enters through eastern goupuram and leaves through southern goupuram.The poorams of Laloor, Ayyanthole, Neithalkavu, Choorakottukavu, moves to thekkinkadu maidan from Naduvilal(west) and enter vadakumnathan through western goupuram leaves through southern goupuram. Karamukku bagavathy moves through manikandall(south) and enters through western goupuram and leaves through southern goupuram. Thiruvambady moves to maiden through Naikanal(North) and enters to Vadakumnathan through western gopuram and leaves through southern gopuram.

 The night route is different since except panemukkumpilly no participant pooram enters to Vadakumnathan. Paramekkavu, karamukku, kanimangalam enters through “Manikandanal. Ayyanthole, laloor, neithalkavu, chhorakottukavu enters through Naduvilal while Thiruvambady and Chembookavu through naickanal But all poorams conclude at “Nilapaduthara” near western goupuram.

The Paramekkavu & Thiruvambady stops their pooram for fire works at their pandals at manikandal and Naickanal at 3.00 am .these poorams starts at8.00am from respective pandals and concludes at Sreemoolasthanam at 12noon.
 

THE DAY

The pooram starts with the ceremonial entrance of “Kanimangalam Sastha” pooram through the southern goupuram at 7 pm. The sastha normally charterised as the guardian of pooram enters Sree Vadakumnathan premise with 7 caparisoned elephants and nadapady ..The kanimangalam pooram is the only other pooram which is allowed to perform Melam/vadhyam in side the compound wall other than “Paramekkavu” .The pandimelam starts in front of Elinjithara and finishes at in front of western goupuram.

This is followed by the arrival of Panamukkampilly Sathavu, Chembookavu Karthiayani Devi. Karamukku Karthiyani Devi, Choorakkottukavu Durga Devi, Ayyanthole Karthiayani Devi,and Naithalakavu Bhagavathi . Paramekkavu Bhagavathy and Thiruambady Bhagavathy escorted by Krishna

Paramekkavu pooram

The pooram day: The temple opens at 04 am after the routine poojas, Arattu at 6.00 am and other rituals connected to pooram, “nadakkal para” starts. At 12.30 noon Devi comes out and the famous “purappadu” starts with 15 elephants. The melam starts with “Chempada” (longest in duration and magnificent in performance) during these Kudamattam will be performed. The pandy will start at 2.00pm and the procession moves to “Vadakumnathan for the thrilling “elingithataramelam” .At 4.30 pm the melam concludes and the procession exits through southern gopuram “thripuda” melam will accompany the procession. The procession will face the southern gopuram stationing at the round after paying homage to the statue of Maharaja” .Meanwhile “thripuda will conclude after kombhupattu, and kuzalpattu “Panchari” will start. At 5.30 pm Thiruvambady bhagavathi will start decenting and the “Devine Durbar” will start with kudamattam.The greatest show on earth concludes at 6.45 pm and Devi returns to temple with “Nadaswaram”.

Night pooram stats at 10.30 pm with 5 elephants with “Panchavadhyam”.The pooram moves through round west and round south and ends at Manikandanal pandal at 2.30 am.

After the fire works day pooram starts at 7.30am and moves to Sreemoolasthanam with 15 elephants .Another thrilling experience with “pandy melam” and kudamattam pooram concludes at 11.30 am. After the touching farewell with Thiruvambady bhagavathi Paramekkavu Bhagavathi returns with jubilant crowd to abode.

After “parayeduppu” and arattu at “pandijarchira” (western pond) Devi returns to temple and will be received with pandy melam. After kodical pooram Devi takes rest with uttrampattu.

Thiruvambady pooram

The temple opens at 3.00 am after routine poojas and "usha Seeveli" the “nadakkal para starts”. At 7.30 am Devi starts for pooram with Lord Krishna’s “kolam”and devi’s thidambhu.The ensemble moves through shoranur road naickanal,Naduvilal and old nadakavu to Brahmasom Madhom. After erakkipooja the pooram starts with 3 elephants and “ Panchavadhyam”. This famous “madathil varavu”will starts at 11.30 and will play 2 thalavattom in 3 kalams which will be spread over 100 mts. The pooram will enter the western round through pazhayanadakkavu and 4 more elephants join .the sweet and splendid Panchavadhyam will conclude at Naickanal pandal at 3-0 clock. The procession will move to “sree moolasthanam”with 15 elephants and “ pandy melam”.The melam concludes at 5.00pm and enters to Vadakumnathan temple. The famous Divine durbar will starts at 5.30 pm facing the Paramekkavu bhagavathi in front of the southern gopuram..After the “ kudamattam” and homage to the statue of kochi raja bhagavathi moves to “Madhom” for “ irakky pooja”.

The night pooram starts at 11.30 pm with panchavadhyam and ends at naickanal pandal at2.30 am . Devi watches the “ fire works from 3.00 am to 6.00 am and starts the procession at 8.00 am to vadakunnathan with “pandy melam”. The pooram concludes at 12noon After the fare well devi returns. In the evening devi takes holy dip at padijare chira and returns the temple at 7.pm. After “kodikuthu” the pooram concludes.

Kanimangalam pooram

Starting its journey on pooram day at 4 O'clock in the morning accompanied by Nadapandy and Nadaswaram and associated with 3 elephants and reaches Kulassery temple at Veliyannur. Morechenda artists with a strength of 100 numbers accompanied byPandymelam, it reaches to Manikandanal pandal from were it turns east and enter through Southern Gopuram of VadukkumnathaTemple and reaches Elinjithara. Sree Vadakkumanathan pay great respects to Deva Guru and Honour him opening Lord’s Thirunanda. After the Pandymelam the deity with 14 elephants passes through western gopuram in front of Sreemoolasthanam were the Pandymelam at its brisk point performed and finally ends the day times pooram.
The same process repeated in the evening at 6.30 p.m. and the Pooram ends by 9 o’ clock. The next day there is Uthram Vilakkuat Sastha temple with Aarattu and with Thanthrika Poojas and other ceremonies the curtain of Kanimangalam Pooram ends in the temple. The hoisted flag on a temporary areca nut tree have been pull down by the elephant.

Chembukkavu Pooram

The day starts with arattu and other rituals. Pooram starts at 7 am with Panchavadhyam and nadaswaram and three caparisoned elephants the procession moves to Pooramparambhu through palace road. Bhagavathy enters through eastern gopuram to the Vadakumnatahan and complete the Panchavadhyam near southern gopuram. With melam Bhagavathy descents through the gopuram. And the day pooram ends. Since Bhagavathy is allergic to sun stroke, Devi returns to the temple in a hurry through Naikanal. The night pooram exits through western gopuram and ends at Nilapadu thara. Next evening with arattu, kodikkal pooram and kodikutthu the celebration concludes.

Ayyathole Bhagavathy another constituent of thrissur pooram is supposed to be the elder sister of Chembhukkavu Bhagavathy. The very next day after the kodiyettom Ayyanthole Bhagavathy pays a visit to Chembhukkavu temple and Chembhukavu Bhagavathy returns the visit. To mark the occasion a sandal wood piece is taken from chembhukavu by Ayyanthole Bhagavathy and in return a plate from ayyanthole by Chembhukavu Bhagavathy.

Panamukkumpally Pooram

The Panamukkumpally pooram will start at 7 a.m from the temple with 3 decorated elephants accompanied by Panjavadyam and Nathaswaram via East Fort Junction and arrive at Paramekkavu Temple and enter into Sri Vadakummnathan Temple via East Gopuram , ends the function return via South Gopuram. Same Process would repeat in the night also. The pooram will start after flag hoisting festival ceremony. From the flag hoisting onwards there would be Kerala Kala Programmes. Kodi Erakkal will be done on the next day of pooram festival. Next day in the evening known as Aarrat. In addition to Pooram festivals there are other festivals such as Navarathri Pooja, Sri Sasthan Vilakku and Laksharchana in the month of November and the Sastha Prathishta with Annadanam in the month of December for nearly 1500 people would participate in the Annadanam.

Karamukku Pooram

On the seventh day after Tantric Poojas. Karamukku Bhagavati’s "Ezhunnallippu" starts Pooram muhurtham at 5 a.m. Along with "Nadaswram" and Nadapandi, the Ezhunnallippu reaches Kulassery temple. 3 elephants with Panymelam the possession reaches "Manikanatanal Pandal" at 8 O' clock. Here number of elephants increases to 9. The pandy melam witth more than 150 members moves to sreemolasthanam. This is the curtain raiser of famous "Elinjitara Melam". The Pandimelam will be over by 9.30 a.m. at "Sreemoolastanam" and the deity go inside temple to pay respects to Lord Vadakkumanathan and exit to Southern gopuram.

The Ezhunnallippu rounds the statue of Sakthan Thampuran and returns to Kulassery Temple.

Night pooram . In the evening 7p.m the same process repeated up to 10pm with panchavadyam of more than 60 members and 3 elephants .Pooram ends at western gopuram and after paying a visit to " Nilapaduthara" devi returns to chiyyaram .

After proper rest in the day by evening after "Aarrattu" at Karamukku pond. "Utram Vilakku" Ezhunnallippu begins with 3 elephants. Pandy melam and fire works are the main attractions which is up to 10 P.M. With Tantric Pooja and Utram Pattu the curtain falls this year's pooram. Flag at temple and at Ollukkavu junction hoisted by devotees are driven down by the elephant with great jubilisation.

Laloor Pooram

Laloor pooram has the privilege of the first pooram to hoist the pooram flag before noon of the "Kodiyettam" day. System followed is "Padahadhy" style. The next  day o f "Kodiyettam" Laloor Bhagavathy, after daily rituals travels to Pookkattikkara - Karamukku temple. After the poojas there, Devi travels back to Laloor along with Karamukku Bhagavathy. It is believed that this courtesy call to fellow pooram participant was another extinct rituals where all ten participants followed once.

Laloor Pooram: On the seventh day after Tantric Poojas. Laloor Bhagavati’s "Ezhunnallippu" starts Pooram muhurtham at 6.30 a.m. Along with "Nadhaswram" and Panchavadhyam with five elephants, the Ezhunnallippu reaches at Naduvilal of Swaraj round. During the course of time the number of elephants increases to nine. The melam starts procession moves to Sreemoola Sthanam withPandymelam and ends at 10.30 A.M. the deity go inside temple to pay respects to Lord Vadakkumanathan and exit to Southerngopuram and returns to Laloor.

Night Pooram starts at 6.30 p.m from the temple and the day time routine is repeated. Next day after "Kodikkal Pooram", "Kodikkuth" and "Uthram Pattu" the celebration ends.

Choorakottukavu Pooram

Another major celebration of this temple is "Pooram" (Trichur Pooram). This temple is one of the major participants of Trichur Pooram. The Pooram celebration commences by ritual named "kodiyettam". After "kodiyettam" there will be "Aarattu" every day till "Kodikkal Pooram". There will be "parayeduppu" also. On the part of parayeddppu Bhagavathy on the top of caparisoned Elephant accompanied by Melam visits every house and accepts offerings. During these 7 days there will be various cultural programs also in the night. On theTrichur Pooram day at 6.30 A.M. Bhagavathy with all pomp and pageantry goes to Trichur Town accompanied by "Nadhaswaram". The villagers and devotees follow to participate in the pooram. Pakal Pooram commences at 9.30 A.M. and ends at 11 A.M .After pakal Pooram Bhagavathy takes rest in Paramekkavu Temple. Out "Rathri Pooram" commences at 10 P.M. and ends at 12 o clock. On both occasions Chenda artists perform "Pandimelam". Immediately after "Rathri Pooram" Bhagavathy returns to temple. On the next day by a ritual named "Kodikkal Pooram" our Pooram celebrations come to an end.

Ayyanthole Pooram

The most important festival of the temple is that in connection with the famous Thrissur Pooram which take place during the month of Medam (April/May) every year. Hoisting of temple flag is an important function in this connection. The flag mast (kodimaram) made of areca nut tree is readied by the entitled carpenter family and fixed on the appropriate spot by the local people. The temple priest (Thanthri) hoist the flag on the mast after the necessary Poojas and invocations.

The next seven days are busy with the festival rituals and preparations on the day of Pooram, Devi sets out to Vadakkumnathan on the elephant backs at 6 AM accompanied by Thavil, Vadya, thala and Mela. All the people of the area including the friends and relatives assembled in the temple sufficiently early to have a glimpse of the spectacular possession and show of divine splendor. It is the custom of the people to accompany the Devi to some distance and also decorate the sreet with flowers and place lighted traditional lamp (Nilavilakku/Nirapara) on either side of the road along which Devi may pass. There will be three elephants and Nadapandi until the possession reaches Kottappuram Railway bridge. From railway bridge spot two more elephants are added and Panchavadyambegins when it reaches Naduvilal point, then umber of elephants rises to Thirteen and Melam starts in place of Panchavadyam. The Ayyanthole pooram with Thirteen elephants, the biggest of the Constituent Poorams and next Only to Thiruvambadi and Paramelkkavu Pooram, goes upto Sree Moola Sthanam and Melam comes to an end. Devi enters into the Vadakkumnathan temple after worshipping Lord Siva, comes out through the southern gateway. The whole process is repeated in the night as well. The next day after the Uthram Vilakku in the night, with the de-hoisting of the temple flag, the pooram celebrations comes to an end.

Naithalakkavu Pooram

Neithilkavu pooram: Neithilkavu Bhagavathy is privileged to announce that the Thrissur Pooram is ON.The previous day of the pooram Devi enters the vadakkumnathan temple with all accompaniments, pays her salutation to Vadakkumnathan and open the southern gopuram which was closed on the previous pooram day after the “kudamattom”. Devi moves to western gopuram through maidan to sreemoolasthanam. Devi is received by the Cochin devasom board representative and escorted to nilappaduthara. Here the pooram is announced by play of conch thrice. Devi moves Thiruvambadi temple which is a courtesy call. Latter after “ erakky pooja “, at Moothedathu mana at Viyyur,Devi returns to temple by 4 p.m.

On pooram day Devi starts from the temple by 8.30 am with Nadaswaram and nadapandy.At naduvilal Ganapathy temple there is an “ erakky pooja”. The no: elephants will increase to 11 and with pandi melam Devi enters to maidan at 11.am.The melam will end at sreemoolasthanam at one noon and Devi moves to vadakkumnathan and leaves through southern gopuram. Devi takes rest at karthyiani temple near Naduvil madom , Pazhayanadakkavu.

Night pooram will start from the Karthyiani temple at 11.p.m and through Naduvilal enters to maidan with pandi melam and stops at sreemoolasthanam by midnight one o clock. Devi returns to the neithal kavu temple and reaches at 3 a.m

In the evening, after arattu , kodikkal pooram comes to conclusion by 9.30 p.m

Earlier practice was the Devi takes part in “ Kovilakathum pooram” which is conducted two days before the pooram day and later moves to vadakkumnathan. It is customary an official representative of the kochin dynasty should escort Neithilkavilamma to Vadakkumnathan and be present while opening the southern gopuram and announcing the pooram. After the visit to Thiruvambadi , Devi retires at moothedathu man and returns to the abode on the next morning.

CONSTITUENT TEMPLES OF THRISSUR POORAM
 

Apart from the principal deities of the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi, eight other temple deities participate in the Thrissur Pooram: six Goddesses and two from temples dedicated o Lord Sastha. They are the Kanimangalam and Panakkampilli Sasthas, and the Bhagavathis from Pookkatikara, Choorakotukavu, Laloor, Naithilakavu, Ayyanthole and Chembukavu. The Kanimangalam Sastha is the first God " - who is the incarnation of "Brahspathi"  (Deva Guru)" - which is the premier pooram entering Sree Vadakkumnathan.

It is interesting to note that only Sastha & Devi are participating in the pooram , may be because of Dravidian influence prevailed that time. There is four nos of siva temples, four nos of durga temples and four nos of large ponds are situated at nearly equidistant from the Sree vadakunnatha temple, the silent spectator of the pooram. Siva temple are "Erattachira –South, Chirakkal- west Asokeswaram –North& Midhunapilly –east. Durga temples are Pookkattikkara – karamukukku, Chiyyaram-South, Laloor south west, Ayyanthole, North west Chembookavu - Northeast.

THRISSUR POORAM
 

Pooram originally denotes the nakshatram or star of the Malayalam month in which the festival is celebrated. It was on pooram days that temples in Central Kerala held their annual festivals honouring their deity with processions of caparisoned elephants and percussion ensembles.

Pooram festival season begins in November and extends up to May. Although there are hundreds of pooram festivals in this season, the most important one is the Thrissur pooram which is celebrated on the Pooram Day of Medom Month of the Malayalam Era (mid-April to mid-May).

Another Pooram of similar significance is the Arattupuzha Pooram which falls on the Pooram Day in the previous Malayalam Month of Meenam.

Pooram festivals are also conducted on other days of the month all over Kerala, the unifying factor being the small processional image of the deity, called the thidambu, which is placed at the base of a golden shield-like kolam, which is mounted atop the tallest male tusker and flanked by other elephants. Though the minimum number of elephants will be three, in the bigger festivals it can be as many as twenty-one or more.

THE FIREWORKS DISPLAY
 

Fireworks are an essential part of almost all events in Kerala .But in Thrissur Pooram; the fire works are distinct in character, performance, excellence and magnitude. Both Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu temples compete with each other to provide the crowd with the best and the most unexpected.
 People come from faraway places to watch this amazing display of pyrotechnics. There are four major firework displays in Thrissur Pooram. The ‘sample fireworks’ on the day before the Pooram, the colorful sparklers that light up the sky (amittu) by both sides on the Pooram evening after the Southward Descent, the most impressive event  that mark the peak of Pooram celebrations in the early morning hours, and the final fireworks the following noon after the Goddesses bid farewell to each other that mark the end of Pooram.

The chemistry : The technique is a mixture of sound, light and strength, the proportion may vary according to the type –say amittu( less sound more colour full), dynamite (High pitch sound only) Earlier potassium chlorate was used to increase the loudness and was replaced by potassium nitrate since earlier is more accident prone. The colour full display of amittu was started in Thrissur pooram . Thanks to Dr.T.C. Krishnamenon for his able guidance.

Some of the combinations

Stonshiam Carbonate – Dark Red

Lithium Carbonate – Light Red

Calcium Chloride - Orange

Sodium Nitrate - Yellow

Barium Chloride – Green

Copper Chloride –Blue

Titanium and Aluminum – White

This is only a guide line and proportion is the skill of the technocrat and Aluminum powder, magnesium etc are added to give some gimmicks.

According to sources, an active member of Thrissur Pooram committee witnessed a Chinese firework display during his visit to the Park Fare Exhibition at Madras about 80 years ago. Inspired by the spectacle, he brought some items of Chinese fireworks to Thrissur like poothiri, lathiri, moolipeevu, vaanam etc. It obviously fired popular imagination and in no time, the art and craft of fireworks was taken up by enterprising indigenous families, who developed it into the pulsating event that it is now. Every year new and never-seen-before items are added to the fireworks, with both the temples devoting a large share of resources for it.

The earliest masters of fireworks display, like Kuriya, Ponnuveetil Gopalan Nair, Vellattu Narayana Panicker, Chelapadan Anthony, Vadakkethala Kochapu etc were not formally or technically trained in the art. They learned it through experience and experimentation and virtually developed it into a major industry. All the fireworks-managers of today are the followers of these pioneers. For a long time the responsibility of the Paramekkavu fireworks was vested with Karayarakattil Jose, who has now retired from the scene.
 
It was only in the early 1970’s that a fixed schedule for fireworks display was introduced. Until then whichever party -  Paramekkavu or Thiruvambady - that reaches the pandal first would begin their fireworks display. As this led to a lot of misunderstandings and also untoward incidents, a rotation system was introduced. According to this, each temple would take turns to light their fireworks first. From then on, both the parties have followed this system.

The fame of the Thrissur fireworks crossed boundaries and reached USA and a master was invited to display fireworks in connection with a presidential Sworn - in USA

The Trichur Pooram Exhibition

The Trichur Pooram Exhibition, yet another major attraction of the Pooram is The Trichur Pooram Exhibition one of the biggest Trade Fairs in south India . It is an all-India exhibition that generates significant revenue for the Pooram organisers. The Exhibition which starts a month before pooram was conducted in the vicinity of Vadakumnathan. Venues and organizers changed during the course of time. Thrissur Municipality, entrusted Y.M.A to run it in the year 1933 and afterwards to the stadium committee. In the 1964 the two groups of temples requested the municipality to allow them to run the exhibition to meet the expenses of Thrissur Pooram. In this year these 9 temples joined together ( the 10th pooram Panemukkuppily stopped long before this ) and refused to stage their respective poorams in support of this demand .That year all temples staged the pooram with one elephant just only to meet basic temple rituals. This hurt the feelings of devotees, traders, artists, artisans and people of all walks of life, Tourist Development Corporation, Thrissur Municipality ,respective Panchayaths and Government in general. They started negotiations with these 9 temples through their office bearers and ascertained from them the hardships experienced for conducting the Pooram.

Ultimately Thrissur Municipality admitted the demand of the 9 temples was just and genuine and the right to conduct the pooram exhibition was handed over to” Pooram Nadathippukar” ( the people who are authorized to conduct poorams).This exhibition is the showcases of pavilions and stalls of major commercial, industrial and entertainment houses in the country.

The exhibition profit could be used exclusively for conducting Thrissur Pooram Festival but unfortunately this was diverted for other purpose and only a part of it is used for Thrissur Pooram Festival. This is against the principle of “philanthropic Purpose”. At the same time the Constituent Poorams of 8 temples find it very difficult to celebrate their festival with pomp and decorum as the office bearers of these temples feel hardship and financial difficulty.

Under these circumstances the 8 temples put-up their demand for participations in the exhibition committee and equal share from the funds generated from it .As the demand turned to civil case and interim judgment, the respective Exhibition committees started to give small contribution to 8 Constituent Poorams annually

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

Apart from the Thrissur Pooram another local attraction is the “Puli Kali” (Tiger Play) and “Kummatti” (Mask Dance) that form part of Onam celebrations, the national festival of Kerala (Aug-Sept). These consist of enthusiastic processions of men painted and made-up as tigers, all members of different clubs that organize the event. Thousands gather to watch the ‘tigers’ dancing to the beat of drums.

   The biggest and tallest church in South Asia Our Lady of Dolores popularly known as the New Church [Puthenpalli] and  the first Catholic Church in India, Metropolitan of the Chaldean Syrian Church (the name used for the Church of the East in India) are other places to note in  Thrissur 

The foremost mosque in India Cheraman  masjid which is  dated back 7th century AD, is in Kodungallore of  Thrissur  Dist .The internationally acclaimed Kerala Kalamandalam, a state academy for the promotion of classical arts is also situated at Cheruthuruthy, around 30 kms from Thrissur town. Kerala Sahithya Academy, Sangeetha Nataka Academy and Kerala Lalithakala Academy (State Academies of Literature, Fine Arts and Theatrical Arts) are head quartered at Thrissur making the epithet ‘cultural capital of Kerala’ really significant.

IMPROVES  /  MODIFY THRISSUR POORAM 

The grant show of temples in the vicinity of the vast Vadakkumnathan temple was started in the present form by the great visionary the Sakthan Thampuran, the ruler of the Cochin State. Now the pooram is celebrated with processions from various temples consisting of caparisoned elephants decorated deities embedded in golden Kolams held with colorful specially prepared large umbrellas and Alavattam made out of peacock feathers and Venchmarams. Each of these decorative items are held and exhibited according to the beating of drums by trained men sat over the elephant.

The accompaniment to the elephants stationed in front of elephants consists of drummers, officials of the temple and residents of that particular area mostly the devotees of that temple .as Thrissur pooram has become one of the greatest attractions of the people not only from Kerala but also from other countries of the world, the responsibility of the local administration and the organizers have become much more than the usual rituals. Now they are trying to improve the show by adding improved themes in the show. This will also help to minimize the monotony of locals who throng to the venue every year.

The madomthil varavu (panchavadhyam) of Thiruvambady and : Elinjithara melam ( pandi melam) of Paramekkavu should continue like this. The pakal pooram ( day pooram) at Sreemoolasthanam “pandi” by Thiruvambady. either it may be changed to “Panjari” or the “Panjavadhyam“ may continue” till the end.

Night pooram both Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady is on Panjavadhyam. Night it is better.

Again second day .Paramekkavu may try “Panjari” and thiruvambadi as usual “Pandi”

Spectators will have choice and core competency of the artists will be evaluate

Since Thrissur pooram is commonly known as drum criented festival, the improvements should be limited to the present structure so that it should cater with the taste of visiting people consisting of large number of foreigners and non-Malaya lees. The present forms of Melam and panchavadyam are the live wires of the show and this should be improved with well known artists accompaniments.

The restrictions and the time limit in the Thekkinkadu Maidan also hamper them considerably. Taking into all these aspects including the thin attendance in the main thoroughfare like the Kuruppam Road and M.G. Road from where all these poorams originate should be the focal point for improvisation. These will attract more tourists to these pooram even before entering the main venue, the maiden.

During the procession including the start of it, the following forms of drums which is suitable to amalgamate with our drums and processions can be included in intervals as this temple rituals from other parts of our country which has now started coming out of the walls of temple are attracting large number of people when they are shown along with various programmers.

Some Interesting Indian Art forms (general information).

Pang-cholam

This is Manipuri drum dance where the drummers and musicians will dance along with the music and the sound in different formation vary vigorously and it is a treat to watch.

Bowl singers of Bengal

This art form the singers have two instruments, one is called a string instrument and the other one is a small thabala and they will be singing, dancing and drumming and moving from one place to another in different formations. This is a very melodios traditional, religious and ancient art form they sing Bhajans of various Gods.

Chatu dance of Orissa

Puruliya, Mayur Bhang and Sarai kela

There are physical movements similar to marshal arts (rigorous) with very large size drums and Musical instruments.

Lasam from Gujarat

In this form the instrument is called lasam and with help of this they sing and dance in different combinations.

Bangda from Punjab

In this dance form men wearing colorful dresses with turban on their head will drum and dance in different formations.