Thrissur Pooram 2023: Date, Time, History, Significance, Celebratons

Thrissur Pooram 2023: Kerala is preparing for the 36-hour-long Thrissur Pooram temple festival. It is known as the mother of all poorams and is a vibrant and flamboyant festival celebrated in Kerala, India. The festival is a spectacular display of rich cultural traditions and customs, including elephants with elaborate headdresses, vibrant parasols, and drumming.

This spectacular event is held at the Thekkinkadu Maidanam in Thrissur during the Malayalam months of medam (April-May) to honour the spiritual and cultural essence of Kerala. Here is everything you need to know about Thrissur Pooram, from its history and significance to the numerous events and rituals that take place during the festival.

Thrissur Pooram 2023: Date and Time

Pooram Nakshathram will begin on April 30 at 3:30 pm and end on May 1 at 5:51 pm. Thrissur Pooram 2023 will occur on May 1. The Pooram Nakshathram begins on April 30 at 3:30 pm and ends on May 1 at 5:51 pm. The ‘Vedikkettu’ or pyrotechnics event will take place on May 1 at 3 p.m. The ‘Pakal Pooram’ or ‘Day Pooram’ will begin at 8 am. Followed by the ‘Upcharam Chollal’ closing ceremony at noon. At 12:45 am, the ‘Pakal Vedikkettu’ pyrotechnics display will take place.

Thrissur Pooram History:

Thrissur Pooram is a significant temple festival that extends back over 200 years in Kerala. Shakthan Thampuran, the monarch of the Kingdom of Cochin from 1790 to 1805, established the festival. In 1796, a group of temples were prohibited from witnessing the popular Arattupuzha Pooram because of heavy rains.

Shakthan Thampuran decided to begin his festival, Thrissur Pooram, on the same day in May after hearing their complaints. Since then, the festival has become an important cultural and spiritual event in Kerala, attracting both domestic and international tourism. It is currently one of the most well-known temple festivals in the globe.

Importance of the Thrissur Pooram:

Thrissur Pooram is a significant festival that annually attracts a large number of travellers and is regarded as one of Asia’s largest gatherings. Before Thrissur Pooram, the most important temple festival in Kerala was Arattupuzha Pooram.

During Thrissur Pooram, various temples in and around Thrissur are invited to pay homage to Lord Vadakkunnathan. The presiding divinity of the Vadakkunnathan Temple, with prayers and offerings. The festival features a magnificent procession of more than fifty adorned elephants accompanied by the traditional music of Chenda Melam and Pancha Vadyam. Additionally, the festival is renowned for its elaborate pyrotechnics display, known as Vedikkettu. It has a history of over two centuries and is considered the mother of all poorams.

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Celebrations

Celebrations begin a week in advance with flag-raising and pyrotechnics. Poora Vilambharam is another tradition in which an elephant carrying the statue of ‘Neithilakkavilamma’ opens the Vadakkunnathan Temple’s south entrance gate.

The Sample Vedikettu, a one-hour fireworks display put on by the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms, occurs four days after the raising of the flag. A highlight of the pooram is the Madathil varavu, a panchavadhyam melam featuring over 200 artists. The principal fireworks display occurs early in the morning on the seventh day, followed by Pakal Vedikkettu, a fireworks display that signifies the conclusion of Thrissur Pooram.