THRISSUR: Pooram revelers who gathered at the southern entrance of Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple on Sunday cheered when men atop the swaying elephants unfurled decorative parasols in a competition, as part of the ‘Kudamattam’ ceremony.
The crowd screamed with unbridled joy each time the contesting contingents unfurled colourfully decorative parasols with a ritualistic and playful vengeance.
The Kudamattom ritual began after the two-hour-long free-floating Ilanjithara ensemble. Following Ilanjithara Melam, the procession of the Paramekkavu contingent moved through the southern entrance of the temple to the statue in front of the Thrissur Corporation office to take part in Kudamattam.
By the time, elephants of the Thiruvambady contingent entered the Temple through the western entrance and paraded to the southern entrance to take on the Paramekkavu side in the Kudamattam, the most colourful ceremony of the Pooram. The excitement of milling crowd was palpable when elephants of both Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu sides stood face-to-face to display multi-coloured parasols.
A Real Feast for Percussion Buffs
It was a mesmerising experience for percussion lovers when the rhythmic percussion ensemble of 300-odd artists led by Peruvanam Kuttan Marar performed in front of Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple on Sunday afternoon, as part of the Ilanjithara Melam.
People who gathered at Ilanjithra in large numbers enthusiastically waved their hands in the air and danced to the beats of drums and cymbals. Meanwhile, the police had to strain every nerve to control the milling crowd.
Ilanjithara Melam literally unveiled the splendour and richness of Pandimelam, which is performed by artistes who have unmatched mastery over drum, trumpet, pipe and cymbal. The Melam was presented by about 300 instrumentalists led by Peruvanam Kuttan Marar.
PETA Cries Foul
Thrissur:The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)-authorised inspection team was not allowed to inspect the elephants that were to be paraded during the Thrissur Pooram festival. When the team members reached the venue to inspect the elephants, to their deep shock and surprise, they were denied permission by the district administration, said PETA officials in a release. The inspection team included animal welfare experts and veterinarians from respected animal welfare organisations in the country. It is suspected that the fitness check being facilitated by the district administration, with the help of Forest Department and veterinarians from Animal Husbandry Department, is a sham, and that there is a conspiracy to use illegal elephants who do not have a valid ownership certificate - as mandated by Section 42 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 - as well as unfit elephants, as was done last year, in direct contempt of the Honourable High Court, it said.