As festivities take off in Thrissur, visitors throng exhibition of adornments for pooram
The exhibition of adornments of Thiruvambady faction is going on at Kousthabham hall while that of Paramekkavu is at Agrashala hall. Meanwhile, the festive fever caught the people of Thrissur as the city came alive on the day, especially with the sample fireworks.
Many people arrive in the city in the morning, visit the exhibition of adornments of both the factions and then the Pooram exhibition for the purchases of the year, while the 'chamayam' and the amusement rides in the pooram exhibition enthral children.
'It is like an annual ritual for all of us. Once the pooram days arrive, we roam around in the city and return only after the sample fireworks display. No matter what, we come here with family and enjoy the gathering of people,' shared Muraleedharan from Kannamkulangara.
Around 1,000 decorative umbrellas, polished caparisons, foot-chains for 15 elephants, neck adornments for 115 jumbos, the main 'kolam' (on which the idol of the deity is kept) to be used for 'kudamattom', and 15 sets of 'aalavattam' and 'venchamaram' are usually exhibited at the chamaya pradarshanam.
Hundreds of artists from in and around Thrissur worked for months to prepare the chamayam, a unique experience of Thrissur Pooram. 'Though it is actually a competition between Thiruvamabady and Paramekkavu to showcase their best collections, there is a sense of camaraderie. Pooram celebrations make us more closer,' said one of the volunteers of the Thiruvambady faction. The Chamaya Pradarshanam will conclude on May 5 midnight.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
35 minutes ago
- Indian Express
On the table of Administrator's Advisory Council panel: Proposal to create a signature landmark
A proposal to create a signature landmark on the lines of the London Eye or Singapore Flyer and establish a similar to Dubai's floral wonder was tabled at a high-level meeting of the Art, Culture, Tourism, and Heritage Preservation Committee of the Administrator's Advisory Council at the UT Secretariat, Sector 9, Chandigarh, on Wednesday. The meeting, chaired by H S Lucky, brought together senior officials, cultural experts, and special invitees to deliberate on Miracle Garden strategies that could position Chandigarh as a global tourism hub. During the meeting, the committee chairman emphasised that while Chandigarh is globally admired for its modernist architecture, green spaces, and planned city design, the city's tourism potential has yet to be fully tapped. He stressed that Chandigarh needs bold ideas and large-scale projects that can redefine its identity and attract international tourists. 'Organising cultural festivals, carnivals, food festivals, and other public events will not only enrich the city's cultural life but also create employment and strengthen the economy,' he said. The proposal for a giant landmark similar to the London Eye or Singapore Flyer and a Miracle Garden modelled on Dubai's famed floral attraction drew significant attention during the discussions. Lucky observed that such projects could give Chandigarh a unique identity, offering visitors experiences that blend modernity, nature, and culture. Alongside these ambitious plans, members of the committee highlighted the need to modernise and upgrade existing attractions like Sukhna Lake, Rock Garden, and Rose Garden to make them more appealing and visitor-friendly. The committee also felt that Chandigarh's cultural calendar must expand to include signature events that can draw tourists throughout the year. Ideas floated in the meeting included a Chandigarh Arts and Crafts Carnival to showcase local artisans, a Food and Heritage Festival celebrating regional cuisines, and a Music and Performing Arts Week featuring both national and international artists. Such initiatives, it was felt, would help create a vibrant cultural atmosphere in the city, offering visitors multiple reasons to return. Infrastructure development formed another critical part of the deliberations. The committee underscored the need for improved tourist amenities such as better parking facilities, clearly marked pedestrian zones, modern signage, open-air event spaces, and dedicated photo spots. It was also proposed that new promenades, adventure parks, and cycling trails be developed to enhance recreational opportunities and create a more holistic tourism experience. Heritage preservation was another focus area of the meeting. Lucky remarked that while Chandigarh must preserve its modernist legacy, it must also adapt to evolving design and urban planning trends. He noted that many buildings in the city currently look monotonous, whether they are schools, hospitals, or even five-star hotels. Revising building bylaws, he said, could help infuse variety and freshness into Chandigarh's architectural landscape without compromising its historical character. The committee also called for greater collaboration with cultural institutions, universities, and international art councils. Such partnerships, they felt, could support artist residencies, heritage restoration projects, and academic exchanges with global art and architecture schools. These measures would allow Chandigarh to strengthen its international cultural linkages while maintaining its distinct identity. The meeting concluded with a decision to conduct field visits to major tourist spots to assess their present condition and identify opportunities for improvement. Meanwhile, a follow-up meeting is expected to review the findings of these visits and finalise actionable proposals for early implementation. The committee expressed confidence that with the combined efforts of government authorities, cultural experts, and local communities, Chandigarh could soon emerge as a benchmark city for tourism, culture, and heritage preservation in India.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Andhra Tourism Minister submits DPRs for projects worth Rs 270 crore to Centre
VIJAYAWADA: Tourism, Culture and Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh on Monday announced that Union Minister of Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has assured strong support for the State's tourism and cultural development initiatives. Durgesh, who met Shekhawat in New Delhi along with Union Tourism Additional Secretary and Director General Suman Billa, submitted detailed project reports (DPRs) for three major projects worth about Rs 270 crore aimed at boosting tourism, preserving cultural heritage and creating local employment. The proposals include a Rs 103 crore Cultural Centre in Lepakshi with enhanced tourist facilities, a Rs 99.87 crore Experience Centre in Lambasingi to provide immersive visitor experiences, and Rs 77.32 crore Tent Cities near Buddhist Circuit sites such as Thotlakonda and Nagarjunakonda to extend tourist stays. Durgesh also pressed for Lepakshi's inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage list to elevate its global recognition. Further, he proposed a regional Lalit Kala Akademi Centre in Visakhapatnam, a Kalakshetra auditorium at GVR Music and Dance College in Vijayawada, and a regional Sahitya Akademi Centre to preserve and promote the Telugu language, literature, music, dance and drama in the post-bifurcation era. The minister also raised the need to reprint the Suryarayandhra Nighantuvu (dictionary), as suggested by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, to preserve it for future generations. In addition, he sought `100 crore for an Integrated Experience, Interpretation and Information Centre (APTEIC) in Amaravati. Union Minister Shekhawat responded positively, sanctioning several projects under schemes such as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and PRASAD.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Demand to introduce MEMU service, augment coaches in trains in Ernakulam-Thrissur corridor
With commuters sometimes taking over three hours to cover the Ernakulam-Thrissur NH 544, where traffic snarls are worsening around flyover and underpass worksites, there is a strong demand to augment coaches in existing trains and to operate frequent MEMU train services in the corridor, at least from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. According to the schedule of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the structures under construction are expected to be commissioned by June 2026. Sources in the agency said that while road-resurfacing works in the vicinity of worksites could be done only after rain takes a break, temporary repair works were being done almost daily. Traffic snarls on the stretch that began early morning on Saturday had lasted well into the evening, when a wood-laden lorry encountered a gaping pothole and overturned on NH 544. Expressing the fear that the worsening traffic snarls on the corridor could continue for another 10 months until the works to decongest bottlenecked junctions were over, P. Krishnakumar, general secretary of Thrissur Railway Passengers' Association (TRPA), said the Railway authorities did little to augment the number of coaches in short distance and express trains despite demands from passengers. 'The association had written to the authorities concerned including the General Manager of Southern Railway, the Divisional Railway Manager of Thiruvananthapuram Division, Union Minister Suresh Gopi who is the Thrissur MP, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and to Revenue Minister K. Rajan who is also an MLA from Thrissur district,' he said. 'A MEMU train service in the Thrissur-Ernakulam corridor would lessen congestion to some extent on the NH 544 and the NH 66, where highway development works are on. The congestion can further be reduced if the Railway augments the number of coaches in express trains to 24 and in MEMU services to 16. We had specifically demanded that the number of coaches be increased in train numbers 66319 (Shoranur-Ernakulam Jn. MEMU), 16328 (Guruvayur-Madurai Express), 56313 (Guruvayur-Ernakulam passenger), 66609 (Palakkad Jn.-Ernakulam Jn. MEMU) and 16308 (Kannur-Alappuzha Executive Express) to their full capacity. This would help the Railway earn more revenue, while not altering the existing train service schedules, he said. The association had further demanded the extension of the Nilambur-Shoranur passenger train to Ernakulam, without affecting its existing time schedule, to decongest the two NH corridors. A frequent commuter in the Ernakulam-Thrissur corridor, Ramesh Mathew spoke of how commuters would be willing to pay even 'special express train fare' if a new dedicated MEMU train operated multiple trips on the stretch daily. 'They would not mind paying more for such a service, considering the harrowing time they encounter daily on NH 544 and on NH 66. The situation is such that air passengers to and from CIAL too are getting affected, due to the dilapidated condition of many areas in the two highways and the ensuing acute traffic snarls.' While agreeing that augmenting the number of coaches in trains would benefit commuters, Railway sources said that introducing a new MEMU service, even if it is on a temporary basis, could affect the schedule of other trains operating on the stretch.
