Latest news with #ParamekkavuDevaswoms
New Indian Express
05-05-2025
- New Indian Express
As festivities take off in Thrissur, visitors throng exhibition of adornments for pooram
THRISSUR: Pooram festivities have officially kick-started in Thrissur with the commencement of 'Chamaya Pradarshanam', the exhibition of parasols, caparisons and colourful decorative umbrellas of Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms. Minister of State for Tourism, and Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi inaugurated the exhibition on Sunday in the presence of Revenue Minister K Rajan, Higher Education Minister R Bindhu and other prominent personalities. 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.
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
A symphony of colour and craft: Chamayam expos attract huge crowds
The Thrissur Pooram is not just a celebration of sound and spectacle, it is a tapestry of colour, tradition, and meticulous artistry. At the heart of it all are the displays of elephant accoutrements, without which this majestic carnival would feel incomplete. Chamayappuras (exhibition halls of elephant accoutrements) of the Thiruvambady and the Paramekkavu Devaswoms opened in a riot of colour and tradition on Sunday. From early in the morning until late at night, scores of people reached the chamayappuras, drawn by the irresistible charm of the gold-clad elephant ornaments, vibrant parasols, fluttering venchamarams, and rhythmic alavattams. Paramekkavu's majestic line-up took place at Agrashala, while Thiruvambady's resplendent displays unfolded at the Kausthubham Auditorium on Shoranur Road. Inside the halls, resonating with the rhythm of percussion ensembles, the glow of hundreds of lights danced across gleaming nettipattams (elephant headpieces), ornate kolams and colourful silk parasols creating an atmosphere of pure enchantment. The spectacle was not just visual—it was immersive. Parasols decorated in festival themes, the rhythmic jingle of elephant bells, and the scent of tradition hung in the air as people admired every detail. Both groups proudly showcased their regular and special umbrellas, except a few 'secret parasols' that will be kept under wraps until the much-anticipated Kudamattom (umbrella exchange ceremony) on the Pooram day. Until then, the suspense builds. This year, nearly 2,000 umbrellas are being readied for the festival, crafted with an intensity that mirrors the fierce love for colour. Both Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu are preparing over 50 sets each, with 15 umbrellas per set, and an additional range of secret 'special umbrellas'. Visitors flocked both the venues, turning the halls into vibrant hubs of admiration and excitement. Women, children, and the elderly alike gathered, marvelling at the craftsmanship, soaking in the tradition, and snapping selfies in front of the shimmering displays. The exhibition will continue on Monday too, offering one more chance to witness the magic before it moves to the streets under the grandeur of the Pooram skies.
