Latest news with #Thiruvambady
The Hindu
26-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
New Zealand, Chile kayakers bag top honours on second day of Malabar River Festival
Dayla Ward of New Zealand and Kilian Ivelic of Chile bagged the first prize in the Professional Extreme Slalom competitions in the women's and men's categories, respectively, on the second day of the 11th edition of the Malabar River Festival (MRF), held at Pulikkayam, Kodencheri in Kozhikode on Saturday (July 26). In the men's category, Ryan O'Conner from New Zealand secured the second prize, while Joseph Todd of the USA took third place. In the women's category, Daria Kuziahcheva from Russia and Rata Lowell-Smith from New Zealand finished second and third, respectively. The festival will conclude at Pulloorampara on Sunday (July 27) with the Down River Race / Super Finals, through which the Rapid Rani and Rapid Raja titles will be awarded. The top 16 rank holders in the men's category and the top eight rank holders in the women's category from Saturday's Professional Extreme Slalom competitions will compete in the final race. Minister for Tourism P.A. Mohamed Riyas will inaugurate the valedictory function. Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Thiruvambady MLA Linto Joseph, district panchayat president Sheeja Shashi, District Collector Snehil Kumar Singh, and presidents of various upland grama panchayats are expected to attend the event.
The Hindu
25-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Kayaking takes centre stage at 11th edition of Malabar River Festival
Two 15-year-olds from Madhya Pradesh stole the spotlight on the opening day of the 11th edition of the Malabar River Festival (MRF), which began at Pulikkayam, Kodenchery in Kozhikode on Friday (July 25). Garv Kokatery and Karishma Diwan braved the turbulent rapids of the Chalippuzha river to clinch first place in the Extreme Slalom competition in the men's and women's categories, respectively. Akshay Asok from Kerala and Ayyappan Shyam from Karnataka secured second and third places in the men's category, while Oxana Cherevchenko from Ukraine and Aayushi from Madhya Pradesh took second and third spots in the women's category. However, disputes regarding the men's category results have led to them being withheld for now. Ms. Cherevchenko, who arrived in India as a tourist, was an accidental kayaker. With just five days of training at Kodenchery, she participated in the event and went on to win the second prize. Giovanni Giorgi from Italy, who travelled to Kodenchery from his workplace in Bengaluru, also trained for five days and made it to the quarterfinals. The festival's rescue team also won the hearts of the crowd on Friday. Due to the high water levels in the Chalippuzha, the preliminaries of the Extreme Slalom event were conducted as a Boater X event—a simpler format. However, the risk of kayaks capsizing or participants facing mishaps remained high. In addition to the official rescue team led by Bishnu Guru from Nepal, scuba divers from the Fire and Rescue Services were present at the venue, ready for immediate response. Rescue personnel were stationed along the length of the river, from the starting point to the finish line—some in kayaks and others onshore with bamboo poles. Professional kayakers also assisted in ensuring safety. The riverbank was barricaded to prevent public access to the water, and scuba gear, dinghies, and ambulances were on standby. Earlier in the day, Thiruvambady MLA Linto Joseph inaugurated the event, with Kodenchery grama panchayat president Alex Thomas Chembakasseri presiding over the function. Cultural programmes were held at Pulikkayam in the evening. The professional segment of the Extreme Slalom competition, which will see participation from many international kayakers, is the highlight of the second day. The Downriver Race/Super Finals will be held at Pulloorampara on the Iruvazhinji river on Sunday (July 27), the final day of the festival. The Malabar River Festival is organised by the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society and the Kozhikode District Tourism Promotion Council, with technical support from the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala Crime Branch questioned Union Minister Suresh Gopi as part of Thrissur Pooram ‘disruption' probe
The Kerala Police confirmed on Monday (July 7, 2025) that State Crime Branch (CB) investigators had questioned Union Minister Suresh Gopi as part of a sweeping government-ordered inquiry into the alleged disruption of Thrissur Pooram in 2024. However, CB officials averred that the agency preferred to keep the time or where they questioned Mr. Gopi confidential for now, given the politically sensitive nature of the investigation. The Thrissur Pooram controversy took on political overtones as it dominated the campaign narrative in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Mr. Gopi found himself at the centre of the dispute after he rode in an ambulance, allegedly flashing its overhead lights and sounding the siren, to the festival office, which the police and district authorities had declared off-limits for vehicles and civilians on the night of the iconic fireworks. Seva Bharathi, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), owned the ambulance. Subsequently, the police and the Motor Vehicles department (MVD) booked Mr. Gopi and the operator on the charge of misusing an emergency response vehicle for casual transport. Mobile phone videos of Mr. Gopi parleying with apparently distraught Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms went viral on conventional and social media in the run-up to the poll day on April 26, 2024. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition quickly accused the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) of throwing the Thrissur Lok Sabha poll to Mr Gopi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the constituency, by 'wilfully scuttling Thrissur Pooram to stoke Hindu majoritarian religious sentiment among voters.' Mr. Gopi's opponent, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader V.S. Sunilkumar and Congress' standard-bearer in the constituency, K. Muraleedharan, accused the State police of allowing the BJP candidate to gain political mileage by emerging as a champion of Thrissur Pooram lovers, a significant electoral bloc in the constituency. The alleged disarray in the conduct of the festival had caused considerable disquiet among the mammoth festival crowd and the general public, prompting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to order a three-tier investigation last year. Subsequently, the CB formed a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate the cognisable offences detailed in the preliminary police enquiry report about the festival 'disruption'. The SIT will likely submit its report to the Additional Director General of Police, Crime Branch, H. Venkatesh.
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Thrissur Pooram concludes with ‘Upacharam Cholli Piriyal' ritual
The 2025 Thrissur Pooram wrapped up in spectacular style with the 'Upacharam Cholli Piriyal' ritual on Wednesday, marking an end to the iconic 36-hour cultural extravaganza. The idols of the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu temples were ceremoniously taken back to their abodes, marking the festival's end. The grand finale was a fitting tribute to Kerala's most celebrated temple festival, which this year drew record-breaking crowd. The final day featured 'Pakal Pooram,' also known as 'Thattakathe Pooram,' a festival within the festival, especially cherished by the local community. Aimed at residents, particularly women who were busy hosting guests during the main Pooram, this celebration saw a vibrant repeat of Tuesday's rituals, complete with a majestic elephant parade, thunderous percussion ensembles, and another round of dazzling fireworks. Vibrant celebration Families, especially women and children, thronged the venue to witness the cultural spectacle, turning the final hours into a vibrant, community-driven celebration. The showstopper was undoubtedly the early morning fireworks, which lit up the Thrissur sky in a mesmerising display. The Thiruvambady Devaswom kicked off the pyrotechnic showdown, followed by the Paramekkavu Devaswom. Both teams thrilled the audience with innovative patterns, breathtaking bursts, and a sheer variety of firework artistry, turning the skies into a living canvas of sound and colour.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Thrissur Pooram 2025: The Met Gala of Elephants, Fireworks, and Drum Battles
On May 7, 2025, isn't just hosting a festival—it's dropping the hottest invite-only (but actually open-to-all) party South India has to offer: Thrissur Pooram . Think Coachella, but with less glitter and way more percussion. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It's that annual moment when tradition puts on its biggest gold-trimmed shades and says, 'Let's get loud.' Set in the cultural nucleus of Thrissur, this celestial showdown isn't just about religious devotion—it's about flexing festival muscle. Two temples, Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady, face off like it's the Pitch Perfect finals, except instead of acapella, it's thunderous chenda melam drum orchestras, capped with a literal explosion of color and noise that makes Times Square on New Year's Eve look like a tea party. The elephants? Oh, they're not just there for a walk. These tusked titans are decked out like they're attending the Oscars—except their tux is 24-karat golden nettipattams (head ornaments) and fans waving in synchronized choreography. Picture a crossover episode between The Crown and The Jungle Book —it's regal, it's wild, it's everything. And the fireworks? NASA called. They want their launchpads back. The pyrotechnic warfare kicks off in the middle of the night and could wake the ghosts of ancient kings. It's visual chaos, the kind that makes Michael Bay's entire filmography look understated. But beyond the glitz and audible tremors, Thrissur Pooram is the epitome of unity in diversity . Temples, communities, and artists blend in harmony, proving once again that when Kerala decides to throw a party, it doesn't just raise the roof—it launches it into the stratosphere. Anyone still unsure about attending should know this: skipping Thrissur Pooram is like skipping the final episode of Breaking Bad —technically legal, but spiritually unforgivable.
