This year, Pooram was celebrated on May 19th and 20th, 2024. Mr Radhakrishnan (RK) from CSS Group was privileged to speak about Thrissur Pooram for a global audience on television channels. It has been his ninth year as a commentator for this event on popular television channels. He spoke particularly about the ‘Kudamaatom’ which is a swift and rhythmic changing of colored and sequined parasols. This is a major event, where Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu deities on caparisoned elephants meet face to face titled as the “Divine Durbar.”
Thrissur Pooram was choreographed by the ruler of Cochin State, H.H.Rama Varma, popularly known as “Sakthan Thampuran”, two centuries ago.
On the day of Pooram, when the ceremonial fireworks resonate, an intense fervor grips the magnificent city. The world converges on Thrissur’s grounds day and night. For each Thrissurite, no matter where they are, the day of Pooram draws them back to the corridors of Thrissur. Their eyes, ears, and hearts will be roaming around in their homeland. The exciting processions, the tantalizing melam, the mesmerizing fireworks, the alluring elephants…. days and nights are forgotten in the festivities.
Thekkinkadu, shining in the light of the beautifully decorated ‘pandals’ (temporarily erected man made structure illuminated with colors and lights) and the torchlights along with the elephant’s caparison or ‘nettippattam’ lures us again into the grandeur of tradition.
After the declaration of pooram by the supporting temples a week before the festival, each Thrissurite’s heart resonates with excitement, “We must go to Thekkinkadu Maidan, and it’s here where the celebrations happen ! All the eyes and hearts around the World are focused to the Swaraj Round of Thrissur with excitement”.
The unparalleled beauty of Thrissur Thekkinkadu ground shines through in the scorching heat. The Malayalam month ‘medam’ is the hottest in Kerala, the most spectacular and divine festival show on this planet, the Thrissur Pooram is celebrated on the ‘Pooram Naal’ (Malayalam day) of this month which falls during April – May.
Situated right in the middle of the city is Thekkinkadu Maidanam (Ground) sprawls over a large part of the city with a temple in the middle of the maidan, Vadakkunnathan, where everything comes together. Traditionally, two groups representing the main geographic divisions of Thrissur, Paramekkavu Temple and Thiruvambady Temple along with eight other supporting temples are the participants of Thrissur Pooram. The supporting participating poorams are normally called Mini Poorams.
The mini poorams arrive spreading color and vigor to the city of Thrissur through the royal pathways… Thiruvambady’s Madathil varavu… the throbbing sound of Panchavadyam… Paramekkavu’s grand procession… the fierceness of the melam under the ilanji tree at Vadakkunnathan… the music intensifes and thousands of fingers rise and fall in the sky, blending into the ultimate intensity and reveling in joy….the southern descent witnessed by a sea of people… the Kudamattam… the sky filled with fireworks…
The walk from the Machingal Tharavadu, (situated on Machingal lane of MG Road Thrissur), to the Swaraj Round of Thrissur becomes brisk. The rhythm of the rising tempo seeps into the veins, spreading warmth and, in that excitement, everything else is forgotten.
Time neither advances nor retreats. It stays standstill. The main participants, Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady create an atmosphere forgetting the competitions and celebrate as ONE, the oneness is made felt to all.
Fireworks paint playful displays across the sky during the early hours of following day.
The next day, after the pooram is dispersed by the two magnificent elephants, the customary kanji (rice gruel) is consumed at the thirty-sixth hour of Pooram to alleviate the fatigue. And then, preparations for the Pooram of the coming year will slowly begin.
I believe is blessed by the Gods & Goddesses of Thrissur to commentate Pooram for Television channels, and with this year Pooram which was celebrated on May 19th and 20th 2024 completed Nine blessed Years. I feel, am fortunate to be appointed to speak about my Thrissur Pooram for a Global audience, particularly the ‘Kudamaatom’, which is a swift and rhythmic changing of colored & sequined parasols. This is listed as one of the major events of Pooram, where both the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu deities on caparisoned elephants meet face to face, accompanied by other elephants, and we title this moment as “Divine Durbar”.
I was also fortunate to welcome and witness the participation of “Devas Aromal” the elephant owned by our Chairman Mr T S Kaladharan at the 2023 and 2024 pooram.
During the closing of pooram celebrations at the ‘Upacharam Chollal’ by the major participants, the responsible leaders announce the following years date and agree to celebrate and meet.
From that moment we Thrissurites also fix up our next annual calendar !
I look forward to May 6, 7 of 2025……and am sure so will be ‘Aromal’ , once been a part of Thrissur Pooram, You can never skip it !!