The Pooram Festival is one of the most popular annual festivals in Kerala, India, which is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Medam. It is celebrated with great pomp and splendour in the city of Thrissur, known as the cultural capital of Kerala.
The highlight of the Pooram Festival is the grand procession of caparisoned elephants that takes place at the Vadakkumnathan Temple, where devotees gather to witness the spectacle. Other important elements of the festival include firework shows, traditional Kerala musical performances, and the display of colourful parasols and umbrellas.
The festival is over 200 years old, and its origin is closely related to the Vadakkumnathan Temple and its deity, Lord Shiva. The festival is believed to have been first celebrated in the late 18th century, during the reign of Rama Varma, the Maharaja of Cochin.
The festival is marked by the participation of various communities, each with their own set of rituals and traditions associated with it. The two prominent communities involved in the celebration of the Pooram Festival are the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady Devi Temples, which compete with each other in a friendly spirit of rivalry to provide the best display of elephants, music, and fireworks.
The Pooram Festival offers a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Kerala, wherein devotion, art, and tradition are all seamlessly blended together. The festival is a celebration of life and energy, making it one of the must-visit events in Kerala for tourists and locals alike.