Latest news with #Pooram
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Thrissur Pooram fiasco: Top cop to submit report soon, ADGP refutes charges
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State Police Chief Shaik Darvesh Saheb, who conducted an inquiry to ascertain whether any lapses by ADGP M R Ajith Kumar led to the disruption of the 2024 Thrissur Pooram, will file his report before the government soon. Shaik, who is set to retire on June 30, will file the report within two weeks, sources said. As part of the probe, he recorded Ajith's statements last week. The ADGP has refuted the allegations of lapses. Sources said he told the police chief that he had ensured all measures for the safe conduct of Pooram and the junior officers failed in their duty to execute the action plan. Sources said Ajith also rejected the accusation that he wilfully chose not to respond to calls made by Minister P Rajan when the Pooram fiasco took place. He said he was in touch with the minister until 10.30pm and after that he went to sleep.
The Hindu
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Laser light attack on elephants: Devaswom alleges agenda to disrupt Pooram
Paramekkavu Devaswom authorities have raised an allegation that secret lobbies may be working behind the scenes to sabotage the Thrissur Pooram festival by targeting elephants using laser lights. Interacting with mediapersons here after the Pooram, Paramekkavu Devaswom secretary G. Rajesh claimed that laser lights were deliberately pointed to the eyes of elephants during Pooram events, including night parading and Kudamattom. He raised suspicion that such lights might have led to the accident just before the Pooram fireworks in which an elephant ran amok, causing injuries to many. He warned that had such an incident occurred during the Kudamattom it could have caused a massive disaster. Despite strict orders from the district administration against the use of laser lights during Pooram events, people continued to flash them during night-time processions and even during Kudamattom. Mr. Rajesh called for a ban on the sale of laser lights at festival venues and demanded strict action against those using them. He stressed that the ultimate goal of certain groups might be to put an end to the elephant processions.
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Meet Aswathy and Archana, the first women to play the chenda at Thrissur Pooram
Thunderous fireworks, parading elephants, kudamattom (display of colourful parasols), and more. The Thrissur Pooram that dates back to 1796 draws thousands of visitors every year at the famed Vadakkumnathan temple. In the popular number 'Kaanta' by the band Masala Coffee, a woman asks her beloved if she can accompany him to the Pooram. The song goes on to describe what she would witness and do at the festival. One of the lines goes: 'Thimila anikonne kaananam kaanthaa... Thimilayil athilonne kottanam kaanthaa', loosely translated to, 'I want to see the hour-glass shaped drum, I want to play the hour-glass shaped drum'. Now, two women — Aswathy Jithin, 35, and Archana Anoop, 42, from Poomkunnam — not only played the thimila, but also were a part of pandi melam, one of the main percussion sets, becoming the first women to be part of the chenda melam at the Pooram. Aswathy, a native of Thrissur, grew up watching the Pooram. Marriage to Jithin Kallat, one of the main percussionists at the event, piqued her interest in the chenda. Her 13-year-old son Adithya learnt the chenda, and when he was about to have his debut performance in 2018, Aswathy was inspired to start learning. After learning for a year, she made her debut in 2019. Archana's story is similar. Three months into her son Udhav learning the chenda, she started training under Jithin, and made her debut in 2023, on Deepavali. Says Aswathy: 'My husband Jithin has been playing at the Pooram for 10 years now. This year, Archana chechi (elder sister) and I approached him and professed our wish to take part in it too. He agreed. The Devaswom Board did too. And thus, we got to be a part of valamthala or the right hand side of the percussion, in one of the back rows. The duo was part of the pandi melam, which is part of the procession to bring in shasthavu or Ayyapan's idol via the southern gate, and ending at the western gopuram. This isn't the first time women have been a part of the Pooram — in 2024, Hridya, a native of Thanikkudam, and Sreepriya, a native of Mulankunnathukavu, played the kuramkuzhal or wooden wind instrument similar to the flute. 'Our families have been very supportive,' says Archana, adding 'My mother has been receiving congratulatory calls.' The duo has till now been a part of at least 10 chenda melams, including those at Shankarakulangara Bhagavathy temple and Kanimangala Shastha temple. Aswathy says she has always felt a close association with the Pooram as her father, C. Nandakumar was a member of the Thrissur Pooram Ekopana Samithi, the group that ensures the pooram functions smoothly. 'We have always gone for poorams — not just the one at Thrissur — as a family and returned home in the wee hours of the morning,' she says. Like Aswathy, Archana too says she never had such aspirations as a child, but was musically inclined. Incidentally, both Archana and Aswathy were part of the marching bands at their respective schools in Palakkad and Thrissur. 'I suppose, we both were destined to be involved in music in some way,' Archana says. Both women now have set their sights on learning sopana sangeetham (sacred ritualistic songs, usually sung at a temple's nada or doorway). The chendas are heavy, weighing about 13-14 kg. 'It is a bit difficult to become one with the chenda when you start out; you tend to suffer from shoulder pain and body ache, but you get used to it. And while performing you usually get immersed in it, which makes you forget about the pain,' she says. The day before their performance, the women didn't think much of it. 'But on the morning of the Pooram, it dawned on me that it is the first time two women will play the chenda at Thrissur Pooram, an event Malayalees across the globe watch. But, once we started the melam, all the nervousness melted away,' Aswathy says. 'All the other artistes were very supportive as we joined the row of percussionists. We hope to be a part of Poorams at other temples too,' adds Archana.
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Elephant runs amok at Thrissur Pooram, 42 injured in midnight chaos
As many as 42 people were injured when an elephant went on a rampage during Thrissur Pooram celebrations in the early hours on Wednesday (April 7, 2025). The incident occurred around 2:15 a.m. on Pandi Samooha Madam Road, adjacent to Swaraj Round, as hundreds had gathered to witness the grand fireworks display of Pooram. The elephant, Uttoly Raman, one of the parading elephants of Thiruvambady Devaswom, suddenly turned aggressive and ran amok. Panic ensued as people scrambled for safety. The elephant squad quickly intervened and managed to bring the elephant under control. All injured were rushed to the Thrissur District Hospital, with three individuals requiring advanced care shifted to Thrissur Medical College Hospital. Revenue Minister K. Rajan, who was present at the Pooram venue, led rescue operations. In a separate incident on Tuesday night, another elephant, Chirakkara Sreeraman, part of the procession of Karthyayani Temple, Ayyanthole, attacked its mahout. The elephant was later tranquillised by veterinary experts, and the injured mahout was hospitalised.
New Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Thrissur Pooram 2025 is going on at full swing
Devotees thronged Vadakkumnathan Temple as the acclaimed 36-hour long annual Thrissur Pooram festival began. The festival kicked off with fast beats of percussion instruments and conches blowing . The Pooram, known as the mother of all 'Poorams', officially kicked off on the night of May 5 as Neythalakavilamma made her majestic entry, escorted with devotion and ceremony, opening the Thekke Gopura Nada of the Sree Vadakkumnathan Temple.
