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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.
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.
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Illuminated pandals steal the spotlight at Thrissur Pooram
Towering above the festive grounds like celestial lighthouses, three majestic multi-tiered pandals lit up the Thrissur Pooram preview night. These glowing marvels, erected at Naduvilal, Naikkanal, and Manikandanal, dazzled onlookers with their sheer height, intricate design, and digital brilliance. Rising over 100 feet, each of these pandals is a spectacle of luminous artistry. When the lights of the Pandals flickered on just before the sample fireworks on Sunday, the sky was suddenly painted in multiple hues. The pandals, with their precise symmetry and brilliant illumination, stood like towers of light, adding to Pooram's allure. The crowd that came to witness the sample fireworks made it a point to tour each structure. From the royal-themed elegance of Paramekkavu's design to the digital dazzle of Thiruvambady's creations, pandals became not just places to admire but backdrops for a flurry of selfies, status updates, and viral reels. Paramekkavu's majestic Pandal was crafted under the expertise of Nadam Baiju from Edappal. At Manikandanal, Baiju and his team took things a step further, not only adorning the structure with colourful lights, but also incorporating images and videos, giving the Pandal a distinctly modern touch. Built across four tiers on 28 pillars, the structure stands an impressive 108 feet tall. This is the fifth time Baiju has designed and constructed the Pandal for Paramekkavu. Thiruvambady's Naduvilal pandal was the work of Seythalavi of Cheruthuruthy, who has been constructing pandals for the festival for the last 16 years. Inspired by temple towers, this year's structure rose to approximately 110 feet on 24 pillars. The digital lighting effects turned it into a kaleidoscope of wonder. At Thiruvambady's Naikkanal, it was Pallath Manikandan from Cheroor who once again delivered architectural magic. His 90-foot-tall and 32-foot-wide multi-tiered pandal stood like a digital monument, combining intricate design with tech-powered brilliance. In his sixth year contributing to the Thrissur Pooram's visual splendor, Manikandan's creation held its head high, echoing both heritage and innovation.
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.
