Kerala's biggest temple festival Thrissur Pooram in pictures

The two century-old festival, held at the sprawling Thekkinkadu ground in front of the famed Vadakkunnatha Temple here, provided a visual treat to a large number of people who thronged the venue. (Express Photo | Albin Mathew)

The face-to-face meeting of 30 richly caparisoned elephants'--15 each from the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady, the two local temples, was a spectacle. A colourful display of fireworks in the wee hours of tomorrow would mark the grand finale of the Pooram festivities. (Express Photo | Albin Mathew)

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan (in pic), who was present here to witness the festivities, said in a Facebook post that the Thrissur Pooram was a 'secular festival' of Kerala. The state government would do all possible things to showcase the Pooram, which is a pride of Malayalis world over, without losing its glory, he said. (Express Photo | Albin Mathew)

The Thrissur Pooram had its origin in 1798 through a royal edict of'Raja Rama Varma, popularly known as Shakthan Thampuran, a powerful ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Cochin. The edict entrusted two local temples ' Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady ' as the main sponsors to conduct the 'pooram' on the grounds of the Vadakkunnathan temple in the heart of Thrissur city. (Express Photo | Albin Mathew)