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New Indian Express
14-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Jumbos turned violent owing to laser lights, says Paramekkavu Devaswom
THRISSUR: Though Thrissur Pooram this year concluded without any hitches, it seems the allegations didn't. Paramekkavu Devaswom, one of the factions that organises Thrissur Pooram, has come out against the use of laser torches or laser light sources in festival grounds, which they suspect was the reason behind elephants turning violent amid the parade. Paramekkavu Devaswom secretary G Rajesh alleged that the elephant didn't attack any people, after turning violent and all it did was to run amok. 'There is some reason behind the elephant turning panic and it should be probed. We suspect that some people with vested interest focused laser light on the elephant, leading to a chaotic situation,' he said. The devaswoms urged the district administration and police to ban laser lights in festival grounds for the safety of public. Both devaswoms had raised allegations against an animal rights organisation for conspiring to focus laser lights on the eyes of paraded elephants to deliberately create issues. In the incident during Thrissur Pooram, tusker Uttoly Raman came charging at people amid the elephant parade of Madathil Varavu ceremony of Thiruvambady Bhagavathy at midnight. The tusker didn't attack anyone. Instead it ran through a pocket road for about a kilometre. As many as 60 people were injured after they fell while trying to run away from the violent tusker.
New Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Kudamattom rings in colours, vibrant fervour
THRISSUR: As the setting sun painted the sky colourful, the Thekke Gopura Nada (south tower gate) of the Sree Vadakkumnatham temple presented one of the most spectacular of sights — kudamattom. The changing of umbrellas, in a competitive but fun mode, forms the most popular segment of Thrissur Pooram. And on Tuesday, people from all walks of life united in spirit to watch the show of colour and art as two sets of 15 elephants each — from the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu devaswoms — stood facing each other at Thekkinkadu Maidan, the green hub in the centre of the city. As the percussion performances picked up, the enthusiasts had one hand up in the air, capturing the rhythm of the melam. Union Minister Suresh Gopi, Revenue Minister K Rajan, Higher Education Minister R Bindu, Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan, District Collector Arjun Pandian, and caricaturist Jayaraj Warrier were among the prominent personalities in attendance. They walked around mingling with people, with no special consideration, and immersing themselves completely in enjoying the festivities. A massive crowd was witness to the kudamattam which began at 5.45pm, taking the festive spirit to its zenith. At the conclusion of the Elanjithara melam, Paramekkavu Bhagavathy — the deity being carried by tusker Ernakulam Sivakumar — came out of the Vadakkumnathan temple through the southern entrance for the thekkottirakkam. Accompanied by rhythmic panchari melam, Paramekkavu Bhagavathy took a round of the Sakthan statue and returned for the kudamattom. By the time the Paramekkavu Devaswom was ready for the kudamattom, the Thiruvambady Devaswom had completed its Madathil Varavu pandi melam and entered the Vadakkumnathan temple. Despite the intense summer heat, people took in the spirit of the festival, letting out loud cheers for each decorative umbrella raised by the two teams.
New Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Climate
- New Indian Express
Thrissur Pooram begins with procession of Kanimangalam Sastha
THRISSUR: A large crowd of people has been flowing to Thekkinkadu Maidan on Tuesday to watch the elephants, and Melam despite the scorching sun. The rituals on Pooram day began with the procession of Kanimangalam Sastha from the temple to Thekkinkadu Maidan. It was followed by Karamukku Bhagavathy and Ayyanthole. Thiruvambady Bhagavathy was welcomed with vedic chants at Brahmaswam Madom. The pooja by little children of the madom lasted for more than an hour after which Madathil Varavu began. Though the police have been effectively managing the crowd, with stringent restrictions, police take more space than the spectators.
New Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Feel the beat! Thrissur Pooram draws the best out of melam
THRISSUR : While the village of Peruvanam in Thrissur district is considered the birthplace of melam (traditional festival percussion), Thrissur Pooram has long been the platform that thrills percussion lovers from across the globe. The overwhelming crowd that witnesses the Elanjithara melam, organised by the Paramekkavu Devaswom, serves as ample proof. Besides pandi melam, the festival showcases the best of panchavadyam and panchari melam during the 30-hour-long celebrations. When the sun rises on Tuesday, the Thekkinkad Maidan will host an array of percussion performances, of different varieties, led by some of the most prominent artists in Kerala. Kizhakkoot Aniyan Marar, the pramani (lead artist) for Elanjithara melam, says it is a blessing of the goddess to be able to lead the grand ensemble. Having been performing for the Paramekkavu temple for around 36 years, this is the third time he is leading the melam. 'Around 250 artists will participate in the Elanjithara melam. There won't be any space to stand in rows if we increase the number beyond that. The melam will last around four hours,' Aniyan tells TNIE. Cheranellur Sankarankutty Marar, the pramani for the Madathil Varavu of Thiruvambady Bhagavathy, is of the opinion that the melam for Thiruvambady should get equal importance.'Both are pandi melams, though performed by different people. It is high time Madathil Varavu and its melam received due attention,' Sankarankutty says. He says it is his friendship, rather brotherhood, with Aniyan Marar that gave him a role in Thrissur Pooram. 'Though I have led the melam at many temple festivals across Kerala, the position of a pramani in Thrissur Pooram is special,' Sankarankutty says, adding that it is the people who make the pooram such a grand celebration. The Thrissur Pooram has 10 temples participating including the main organisers, Thiruvambady Devaswom and Paramekkavu Devaswom. The day begins with the procession of Kanimangalam Sastha, followed by those of all other temples involved in the ghataka pooram. While the procession from the respective temples begin either with nada pandi, panchavadyam, or nadaswaram, every deity switches to pandi melam once they enter the Thekkinkadu Maidan. 'What makes the rhythm of melam to enthuse people around the world is the fact that it connects easily to our body, mind, and heart,' says Arun, a volunteer among the pooram coordinators.
New Indian Express
05-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Thrissur Pooram a celebration of jumbos, too
THRISSUR: All festivals, irrespective of religious differences, serve as a gathering of people. But it is rare for a festival to also become a gathering of animals, elephants in the case of Thrissur Pooram. Kerala's celebrity tuskers — including Thechikottukavu Ramachandran, Ernakulam Sivakumar, Guruvayur Nandhan and Pambady Rajan — are all set to participate in the pooram this year, attracting jumbo fans to the festival ground. Every year, close to 100 captive elephants of Kerala participate in the rituals associated with the Thrissur Pooram, making it the only opportunity for festival enthusiasts to see and click photographs of such a large number of jumbos. The preparations for jumbos to participate in the annual festival begins early as fitness is of utmost importance. Ernakulam Sivakumar, owned by the Cochin Devaswom Board, will carry the idol of Neythalakavu Bhagavathy, heralding the pooram, at 11am on Monday. When Neythalakavu Bhagavathy opens the Thekke Gopura nada (south gate), the 36-hour pooram ceremonies are kickstarted. On the day of Thrissur Pooram on May 6, Thechikottukavu Ramachandran will carry the idol of Chembukkavu Bhagavathy for the ghataka pooram. Thiruvambady Chandrasekharan will carry the idol of Thiruvambady Bhagavathy for the major pooram rituals including Madathil Varavu and Kudamattom. Guruvayur Nandhan will carry the idol of Paramekkavu Bhagavathy for Elanjithara Melam and Kudamattom. Paramekkavu Kasinathan will also carry the idol of Bhagavathy for other rituals including Arattu. Other prominent jumbos set to participate include Kuttankulangara Arjunan, Puthupally Arjunan, Pallat Brahmadathan, Koodalmanickyam Megharjunan, Bastin Vinayasundar, Thiruvazhapilly Mahadevan, and Thadathavila Rajasekharan.
