THRISSUR: Thousands of people thronged the Thekkinkad Maidan on Thursday to witness the Thrissur Pooram, celebrated with all its traditional fervour, splendour and magnificent features. The celebrations witnessed a beautiful harmony of religion and carnival spirit elevating the festival into a culture of companionship.
The merry and pomp of the Pooram was evident from morning when hundreds of Pooram lovers immersed themselves in the spirit of fest by joining the morning rituals. Revelers jampacked the streets in Swaraj Round. Not just the streets, but Pooram lovers congregated in nearby flats, houses and buildings. Every nook and cranny of the Swaraj Round was filled with enthusiasts.
The festivities gathered momentum with the arrival of caparisoned elephants from minor temples in the sprawling Thekkinkad Maidan. Braving the scorching heat, people waved to the soothing rhythm of panchavadyam. Percussion ensembles illanjithara melam and pandimelam, performed by Peruvanam Kuttan Marar and Kizhakkutt Aniyan Marar took the traditional music lovers to the peaks of enjoyment.
Pooram lovers joined the processions of Madathil Varavu and minor temples carrying the idols of deities.
Fifteen tuskers each of Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu lined up to perform the most extravagant ritual Kudamattom when the exhilaration of Pooram celebration reached its pinnacle. Tuskers Kuttankulangara Arjunan and Thiruvambady Sivasundar carried the idols of Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady deities, respectively. Kudamattom with a majestic display of colourful umbrellas and a tight competition between Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu, took the spectators to delight. Fireworks added to the already bursting mood. Thousands keenly waited for the main pyrotechnic wizards in the wee hours of Friday in which tonnes of explosives would be detonated leaving the spectators on rapture.
