Thrissur Pooram festivities begin with flag hoisting ceremonies across temples

The Hindu

30-04-2025

The Thrissur Pooram has officially begun with the ceremonial flag hoisting (Kodiyettam) marking the start of festivities at the participating temples, including the main organisers Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu temples.
At the Thiruvambady temple, the flag hoisting took place on Wednesday between 11 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. following special rituals held the previous day. Tantri Puliyannur Sankaranarayanan Namboodiripad, Puliyannur Jayanthan Namboodiripad, and melshantis Dineshan Namboodiri and Pradeep Namboodiri led the ceremonies.
The kodimaram (flagpole) was crafted by the traditional artisans of the Thazhathupuraykkal Aashari family—Sundaran and Sushith. After a ceremonial bhoomi puja, the pole was installed and adorned with the sacred flag blessed inside the temple. With hundreds of people gathering to witness the kodiyettam ceremony, Thiruvambady formally entered the Pooram mode.
Later in the day, the temple witnessed vibrant processions accompanied by traditional percussion ensemble, flag hoisting at Naikkanal and Naduvilal, ritual fireworks, and the ceremonial arat (holy bath) at Naduvil Madhom.
At the Paramekkavu temple, the flag hoisting began at 12 noon with the grand Valiya Paani, a traditional ceremonial call. A procession of the deity was held, followed by the Kodiyettam. The flag pole, crafted from an areca nut tree by Chembil Kuttan Asari, was decorated with leaves of banyan tree and mango trees and sacred grass, and finally adorned with the temple's ceremonial flag. Yellow flags bearing the Simhamudra (lion emblem) were hoisted at Manikandanal and the Pala tree (blackboard tree).
Kizhakkoottu Aniyan Marar led a Pandimelam, while the ritual procession carrying 'thidambu' was led by elephant Paramekkavu Kashinathan. After the arat at Chandrapushkarani at Vadakkunnathan, the deity returned to Paramekkavu accompanied by melam.
Participating temples
In addition to the two main temples, eight participating temples of the Thrissur Pooram also hosted ceremonial flags.
Laloor Karthyayani Bhagavathy Temple was the first to raise the flag at 8 a.m.-8.30 a.m. Ayyanthole Bhagavathy Temple followed between 11 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. Other participating temples included Kanimangalam Sastha, Kizhakkumpattukara; Panamukkumpilly Dharmasastha, Kuttoor Neythalakavu Bhagavathy, Chembukkavu Karthyayani Bhagavathy, Karamukku, and Choorakottukavu.
With all temples now officially in festival mode, Thrissur is fully engulfed in the Pooram fervour, a symphony of tradition, devotion, and spectacular celebration.