- Pooram star in Medam month
- April or May
- Thrissur, Kerala
Where it began
Pooram is a star in the Malayalam calendar. Temple festivals called Poorams are held in many central Kerala villages.
Thrissur Pooram was started by Sakthan Thampuran, the ruler of Kochi, in the late 18th century. When some temples were kept out of the Arattupuzha Pooram, he brought the temples around Thrissur together for a festival at the Vadakkunnathan temple.
How it grew over time
Before 1790s
Temples around Thrissur took part in the Arattupuzha Pooram, an older gathering.
1790s
Sakthan Thampuran began Thrissur Pooram, with the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady temples as the main groups.
19th and 20th centuries
The festival grew with the Ilanjithara Melam drum show and the Kudamattam parasol contest.
Today
Huge crowds from Kerala and abroad gather on the Thekkinkadu Maidanam.
How it is celebrated in different places
Thekkinkadu Maidanam, Thrissur
Around 30 elephants with golden caparisons face each other for the Kudamattam parasol exchange.
Vadakkunnathan temple
The Ilanjithara Melam, a concert of over 200 drummers, plays under a tree inside the temple.
Central Kerala
Smaller Poorams in nearby villages share the same art of drums, elephants and fireworks.
Thrissur Pooram moments
Thrissur Pooram today
The festival lasts about 36 hours. The Madathil Varavu and Ilanjithara Melam bring drums, horns and cymbals together. In the evening, the two sides face each other with elephants and switch parasols in many colours and designs, to the joy of the crowd.
Before dawn, a big display of fireworks lights the sky, and the next day the goddesses take leave of each other in the Upacharam Cholli Piriyal.
