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Context

• Festivities of the famous Thrissur Pooram began with Kodiyettam, ceremonial flag hoisting, at the participating temples.
• The 36-hour-long festivities will conclude with the Upacharam Cholli Piriyal ceremony on May 1.

About the festival

• The Thrissur Pooram is an annual Hindu temple festival held in Thrissur, Kerala, India.
• It is held at the Vadakkunnathan (Shiva) Temple in Thrissur every year on the Pooram—the day when the moon rises with the Pooram star in the Malayalam Calendar month of Medam.
• It is the largest and most famous of all poorams in India.

History

• Thrissur Pooram was the brainchild of Rama Varma Kunhjippilla Thampuran, or Rama Varma IX, famously known as Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of Cochin.
• Before the start of Thrissur Pooram, the largest temple festival in Kerala was the one-day festival held at Aarattupuzha known as Arattupuzha Pooram.
• In the year 1798 because of incessant rains, the temples from Thrissur were late for the Arattupuzha Pooram and were denied access to the Pooram procession. Feeling embarrassed and angered by the denial, the temple authorities raised the issue with Sakthan Thampuran.
• This made him take the decision to unify the 10 temples situated around Vadakkunnathan Temple and organized the celebration of Thrissur Pooram as a mass festival.

Participants

• Sakthan Thampuran ordained the temples into two groups, namely "Paramekkavu side" and "Thiruvambady side".
• These are headed by the principal participants, Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple at Thrissur Swaraj Round and Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple at Shoranur road.
• The Pooram is centered on the Vadakkunnathan Temple, with all these temples sending their processions to pay obeisance to the Shiva, the presiding deity.

Flag Hoisting

• The pooram officially begins from the event of flag hoisting.
• The flag hosting ceremony (Kodiyettam) begins seven days before Thrissur Pooram.

Poora Vilambharam

• Poora Vilambaram is a custom where the elephant pushes open the south entrance gate of the Vadakkunnathan Temple, which hosts the Thrissur Pooram, with the idol of 'Neithilakkavilamma' atop it.

Display of fireworks (first round)

• The first round of pyrotechnics, known as Sample Vedikettu, happens on the fourth day after the flag hoisting of the Pooram.

Display of caparisons

• The golden elephant caparison (Nettipattam), elephant accoutrements (Chamayam), ornamental fan made of peacock feathers (Aalavattom), royal fan (Venchamarom), sacred bells and decorative umbrellas are prepared new by Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devawsoms separately.

Main pooram

• One of the major events in Thrissur Pooram is "Madathil varavu", a panchavadhyam melam, participating more than 200 artists, with instruments such as thimila, madhalam, trumpet, cymbal and edakka.
• Another notable feature of the pooram is its secular nature.

Display of fireworks (main round)

• This amazing display of fireworks is held in the heart of Thrissur city, in Thekkinkadu Maidan.

Farewell ceremony

• The seventh day of the pooram is the last day. It is also known as "Pakal Pooram".

PRACTICE QUESTION Q) Which of the following statements with reference to Thrissur Pooram is/are correct? a. The largest temple festival in Kerala is the Arattupuzha Pooram. b. Thrissur Pooram was the brainchild of Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of Cochin. a only b only both a and b neither a nor b Correct Answer: 2

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/thrissur-pooram-festivities-begin-with-kodiyettam/article66774297.ece