is what each Malayalee waits for, each year : D It is money one receives from each elder in the family – starting from the grand-parents, to elder siblings/cousins if they are earning members and family friends (Uncles and Auntys)- with of course, one’s parents, and the extended family thrown in for good measure.
When we were kids, receiving even a Rs. 5/- was a big thing! It slowly increased in denomination, coins, sometimes, or crisp new notes. Most of us collected every bit we could, and made visits to relatives’ places gleefully (when at other times we’d have hesitated 😀 ) anticipating the expected 😛
Not surprisingly, my kids are no different, were not as much younger kids as well! In Thrissur, where we used to be, in case we weren’t visiting their maternal grandparents (errr mine 😛 parents 😛 ) , it would be a time when they, my two and their beloved cousins, the ‘fantastic foursome’ as I call them (LINK) would gather as much moolah as possible and then proceed to spend it at the Exhibition, that would be going on, in connection with the Thrissur Pooram 😀
Having graduated to being grandparent now, I totally get the excitement – and while the denominations are now growing, in the Kaineettams (literally meaning to extend one’s hand), there is this pleasure in giving as well – even though mine, at Two, is rather indifferent to it, except that it would be something more to play with!
This year the blog too has received its Vishukkaineetam, a few hours in advance, for as I look at the stats, I’m told that on 13 April, 2016, the blog has received the highest number of hits /day. 947! The previous high was 829, in 2011. Well. 🙂 As mentioned earlier, the Thrissur Pooram is also in the month of Medam, Medam 1 st being Vishu 🙂 and the blogs here on Vishu and Thrissur Pooram remain the highest grossers in terms of views 🙂 If that isn’t Kainneettam, I ask you, then what is, for this blog? 😛 🙂 ❤
947 says the Stats page, a few minutes into 14 April, 2016
Also another thing about Vishu I’d like to add, having recently known of this , is why the Kani Konna or the Cassia Fistula, or the Golden Chandelier, or Golden Laburnum is used in the Kani (your first sight in the morning 🙂 – apparently the Konna was blessed with being adorned by Lord Krishna’s girdle, which he flung upon the tree, as he played with his friends as a boy. The flattened bells on that girdle, are the image upon which the florets of the Kani Konna are shaped 🙂 Divine, is it not? And gorgeous golden yellow with it! Legend it may be, but a lovely one I must say 🙂
So, as you peruse these Vishu posts, if and when you get time, and the Thrissur Pooram one – let me wish you and your loved ones the best the year has to offer 🙂 Good health, luck, success, love and laughter 🙂
Our Kani is ready. The post will be edited by afternoon hopefully with pictures of it 🙂
Vishuaashamsagal! 🙂
14 April, 2016
Links to explore further if/when you have the time 🙂
തൃശ്ശൂർ പൂരം – Thrissur Pooram, 24 April, 2010 to noon, 25th April, 2010.
You may refer to തൃശ്ശൂർ പൂരം – Thrissur Pooram, 2009, HERE. That has all the details. It would be advisable to keep this page open in another window or tab, to keep for ready reference 🙂 This one is more about the trivia 🙂 🙂
This post is about this year’s edition, with some pictures I have been lucky to get and some taken from the web. Mainly Mathrubhumi online paper. Credits where due, have been posted at the end.
This year’s Pooram, was a bit different in many ways. First off, we got to the pooram late. Usually SB and I are there by about 8 am to welcome and walk along with the Thiruvambady Ezhunellipu. (Please keep the earlier mentioned page about last year’s Pooram open, for easy access to the incomprehensible, almost, details you might find me blabbering about ). However, we made our aplogies to teh devi atop the elephant, along with the Thidambu, the plaque which carries a statue of Lord Krishna, complete with peacock feathers on his crown, in the centre.
Trivia: Apparently this thidambu is taken out only for pooram. It was made by a devotee, who got 125 sovereigns of his wife’s jewellery melted down to make this statue to grace the thidambu, for one of the Poorams, a long time ago. After the Pooram, he did not want to keep this in his house, so he gave it to the temple, to be used whenever they wished. It is to the credit of the authorities who manage the temple that they gave it a special status, to be used only with the Devi, for Pooram!
Anyways, we wandered on with the three grand and majestic pachyderms, all splendrous in their nettipattom-നെറ്റിപട്ടം- (they wear this on their forehead) and took these pictures as we kept pace:
The Thidambu, and you can see the image of Lord Krishna at the centre. The Devi herself is carried at the base 🙂
Trivia: The bearded priest on the elephant, holding the Thidambu, is the melshanthi (the senior priest) of Thiruvambady Krishna Temple. He had been chosen to be the Melshanthi of Sabarimala temple a couple of years ago. A gentle soul, quiet and unassuming, and very accessible to every devotee 🙂
The three elphants of the procession are seen in the next picture. Photos courtsey, SB 🙂
The Madhathil Varavu (മഠത്തിൽ വരവു്)
And so after breakfast we proceeded to the next major event, ie, The Madhathil Varavu, again, the Thiruvambady procession, with the most famous Panchavadyam of the state on display.
Trivia: This panchavadyam is aired live over AIR, now telecast live over all the Malayalam Channels. It has been aired live over AIR, for decades now. Many an ardent fan of the music, and the event had only the faithful radio to tune into and be part of the celebration!
Here it is, the Madhathil Varavu… a narrow road, hundreds of onlookers, and participants 🙂
Above: In the distance under the pandal, the Madathil Varavu readies. The Panchavadyam is played there for a whole hour before the elephants start moving. The crowd gathered around gets into a frenzy with all those aficionados thronging and urging the musicians! The excitement is palpable and tangible. It moves you! And you ignore the heat, the thirst, and the crowd!
Trivia: Right behind the elephants is another procession. Of policemen 😛 They’re probably assuring the elephants, with “Dont worry, we got your backs!” It was hilarious! Like this 🙂
Now isn’t that a sight for sore eyes ??? At least they are doing their duty by the elephants if not for the poor people :P!
The Paramekkavu Ezhunellippu (പാറമേക്കാവ് എഴുനെള്ളിപ്പു്)
From the Madhathil Varavu, we moved to the Paramekkav Devi’s ezhunellippu, which had already started, about an hour into the Madhathil Varavu. Resplendent in their grandeur, and attire, were 15 elephants posing for the iconic picture that is Thrissur, during the Pooram time. The devi’s thidambu here, is ornately decorated and she has the choicest of jewels adorning it!
Above are three pictures of the Paramekkavu ezhunellippu, taken around 1 pm. We were quite exhausted by the end of this that we got home, and relaxed in front of the TV where local channels were covering the different events live.
Perhaps that is why the crowds were not to be seen in large numbers. Most people would have preferred to stay at home!
Trivia: There was this guy, perched upon that pillar in the background, still, squatting and unmoving for such a long time. He had a huge movie camera installed too, and he wore a miniature beach umbrella of sorts, you know the one that fits in like a hat, and leaves your hands free? Lol!
The Kudamattom
Did not have the energy to go for this, so no pictures have been taken. However, got this one from one of the websites that I googled for images, this morning. An unusual kuda, or umbrella, that was used by the Paramekkavu Temple Devi group, as part of the ceremony 🙂
This was followed by the next major event in the wee hours of the next morning. The much awaited fireworks session. This year however it was delayed by almost two hours, due to a light drizzle, apparently. But it was still a feast for the eyes. Of late, however, I have found myself not liking the use of firecrackers, feeling sorry for the waste of money, and also for the sake of the poor birds, and other animals who go into a sort of a shock with all this noise and frenzy. Still, that did not stop me from marvelling at the display put up by both temples. Found a video of the same, and have included it down below. It might give you a feel of it all!
Pooram vedikkettu
Sadly, the next day, of the pooram I was working, being part of the valuation camp of CBSE, so I missed out on the Koodikaazhcha, the meeting and parting of the two sisters at Vadakkumnathan. Perhaps for next year, I shall devote more space and energy for that 🙂
In last year’s post I mentioned how Thrissur got it’s name. Got a bit more on that. Apparently, Thrissur, is named for the fact that it has three major Shiva Temples : The Vadakkumnathan, at the centre, the Midhunappilly Temple and the Erattichara temple, also close by. Factfile from my sis in law 🙂
P.S. On 26 April, one of the pandals that had been put up and decorated by the two temples, fell in some strong gusty winds, in the afternoon, in the crowded Swaraj Round. Then followed traffic jams of mammoth proportions!! Here are the pandals, what we could get of them :), from the car we were in, on the night before the pooram!
This one above is the one by Thiruvambady
This is the one by Paramekkavu, which collapsed a day later!
Well, for this year, that is about it! 🙂 I wonder if you have understood much, but the bottom line is, I had FUN 😛 :P!
28 April… the wee hours, wen the day begins 🙂
P P S. All the pictures, except for the first one, the Kudamattom and the last video have been taken by the SB 🙂 The first little one is from the online Mathrubhumi picture.
This one is for you Solilo 🙂 I am only sorry that I cannot give you any pictures that I myself have taken 😦 All of the pictures have been sourced from the web, and all of them belong to their owners 🙂
Disclaimer:
For all : This post is way too long, because I wanted to include as much as I could 🙂 and because I simply do not know how to organize :P! Way too many words, and way too much of rambling, so I do hope you will actually understand something. If you do, tell me. If you don’t, please smile nicely, or look the other way 😛 :P!
Here goes:
( The iconic picture associated with Thrissur Pooram, which shows the Devi of Paramekkavu Temple-in the background- being taken out for her procession. 15 elephants, the musicians in front, and a sea of people to welcome her and accompany her!]
( That is the link to the satellite image of Thrissur, for you to understand the layout 🙂 I do not know how to get the map here 😦 )
An Introduction to Thrissur, for it is necessary to know the geography in order to understand the Pooram 🙂
You see, Thrissur has been rather ingeneously designed and built. The central [now town area] area is actually a sort of rough circular area, around tiny hillock, which, once upn a time was a veritable forest of teak trees, and so was called Thekkinkkad [forest of teaks]. Later, it came to be known as Thekkinkkad Maidanam, after many of the trees were felled or removed for expansion. In the midst of the Thekkinkkad Maidanam sits Lord Shiva, known there as Vaddakkumnnathan [Lord of the North – Vadakku means North, Nathan means Lord]. The area of the Maidanam, in front of the West Gopuram [gate] of the temple, which is the front of the temple, is called the Sreemoolasthaanam, where all the dieties from the different temples come, to pay their respects to the Lord, of Thrissur. In fact Thrissur has been named after Lord Shiva… the full name being Thrishivaperur… the town in the name of Lord Shiva. Thri Shiva, Lord Shiva; peru, name; uru, town 🙂 To continue with a description of the town, (please also view the map, whose link is given at the top of this post), the Maidanam is encircled by a single road and it is called the Swaraj Round. Much like the Connaught Circus in Delhi, which has radial roads. The Krishna Temple is down the Shoranur road, north west of the Maidanam, and the Devi Temple is East of the Maidanam. The Devis from both the temples, basically meet at the Sreemoolasthanam. That is the gist of it. Now to the details 🙂
The Thrissur Pooram is celebrated in the first month of the Malayalam Calendar, Medam (മേഡം), on the nakshatram (star), Pooram (പൂരം), every year. The celebrations begin 10 days prior, and end the next day of the pooram.
3 May, 2009.
Starting at dawn and going on for the next 36 hours, Thrissur was the place to be in if you are a pooram fiend, a melam and panchavaadyam maniac, and an elephant ogler. There were many there that day, hundreds and thousands packed into a few kilometres square, defying the sun, the sultry, humid sweltering heat, the noise, the fragrance of Elephant Dung, and pee… :D, and basking in the outpouring of colours, music, and joy at being there, celebrating the Pooram of all Poorams… The Thrissur Pooram (തൃശ്ശൂർ പൂരം).
For all of you who do not know, and those who know about it, here is a gist of it, from an amateur pooram enthusiast. Amateur, because I am still learning much, and doing more each year, to soak in the ambiance, and allow the history and benediction to seep in 🙂 You will understand what I mean, as you read, I hope, with patience, what is bound to be an uncharacteristically long post for me 🙂 Indyeah, I’m learning fast, aren’t I?? Lol. But I digress.
So to basics… Whatpooram means, and why Thrissur Pooram is touted to be the one beyond which there is no other 🙂 If you have followed the links, you would have found out by now, but I know there are some like me, who like to be told anyway :D!
A Pooram is a temple festival, with caparisoned elephants, processions with music by uniquely fashioned percussion and other instruments like the chenda, maddalam, kombu, elathaalam, thimila, kuzhal etc. The musicians walk along with the elephants, and play the traditional Pandi Melam, Paanchaari Melam, or the Panchavaadyam, according to what the presiding deity is believed to favour 🙂 Poorams are also wonderful ways in which a microcosm of National Integration also actually happens around the temples. It is also the time when the Gods come around for a walkabout with the common man, in his world, and mingle freely to be blessed by the faith they shower upon Him or Her. I have always believed, as the Scriptures say, the God need blessings of man too 🙂
Back to Thrissur Pooram 🙂 This unique festival is believed to be more than 2 centuries old, and was begun by the then ruler of Thrissur, belonging to the Travancore royal family Raja Rama Varma(1751-1805), also known as “Shaktan Thampuran” (ശക്തൻ തമ്പുരാൻ), meaning the ruler with strength. He was understood to be a firm, and stern disciplinarian, who did much to uplift the commoner, improve the economy [by inviting the Portuguese, Syrian christian community to the town, to set up businesses, giving land to them to settle down too!], and ensuring the oppression by the upper caste Brahmans was firmly dealt with. Temple administration, and renovation improved vastly under his rule.
In fact, the Thrissur Pooram actually took shape as a reaction against the denial of processions to the Aarattu puzha pooram, till then the largest pooram, in Kerala, of a couple of temples in Thrissur, citing the reason that they arrived late. An enraged Shaktan Thampuran acted immediately and proactively! He gathered together 8 temples from around Thrissur Kanimangalam, Karamukku, Choorakkattukara, Laloor, Ayyanthole, Neithilakkavu and Chembukkavu, Panamukkampilly, altogether 8 deities.), to participate in the festival, to take place at the gates of the Guardian Deity of Thrissur, the Vadakkumnathan (Lord Shiva), in the presence of the Devis of two other temples, The Thiruvambady (Krishna ) Temple, and the Paramekkavu (Devi) Temples. So we have now, a count of 10 participating temples, all gathering at the presiding Lord Shiva’s temple. The Devis from the Thiruvambady Krishna Temple and the Paramekkavu Devi Temple are the main protagonists of the show 🙂
The Vadakkunnathan Temple:
Vadakkumnathan Temple- Lord Shiva the Presideing Deity of Thrissur 🙂
The Thiruvambady Temple:
Thiruvambady Lord Krishna Temple 🙂
The Paramekkavu Temple:
The Paramekkav Bhagawaiti Temple 🙂
The festival celebrates the meeting of the Devis who are believed to be sisters, at the abode of Vadakkumnathan. The 8 other temples come with mini poorams (ചെറുപൂരം), on the morning of the festival, to share in the celebration.
More than 60 caprisoned elephants, over 500 musicians, and lakhs of people coming together for a few hours, over a limited area , with fervour, and enjoyment, I know sounds like a recipe for catastrophe, but then that is the beauty of it all – The meticulous schedule, also devised and planned by Shaktan Thampuran 🙂
Then, wearing these, the accessories (given below), called aanachamayam, are transformed into the golden, glittering, beautiful caparisoned elephants who gracefully and gladly go around with their precious cargo of deities! From the top row:
The round fans, made from Peacock feathers, and held aloft the elephants’ back while the Melam/ Panchavaadyam takes place: Aalavattom
The fluffy white things hanging down are called Venjaamaram, made from Yak’s fur 🙂 Together they are part of the different stages of the music as it plays.
Aalavattom – Round Peacock feather fans
Atop the elephants, they look like this:
Alavattom and venjamaram, atop the elephants
The oval golden ornaments: nettipattom, worn on the forehead, of the elephant, along with the alavattom and venjamaram on display the day before the pooram 🙂
Aanachamayam display – the decorative items used on the elephant 🙂
The Musical Instruments used for the Melam and Panchavaadyam:
Chenda
Edakka
Thimila
Maddalam Maddalam
Elathalam
Kombu
Kuzhal
10 days prior to the pooram, there is the formal announcement of the pooram with pomp and revelry in the respective temples, where the flag post is adorned, worshipped and the temple festival flag is hoisted. The celebrations have begun, instantly. And what is unique to Thrissur is that from that day on, the entire pooram enthusiasts take sides, either being part of the Thiruvambady (Krishna ) Temple, or the Paramekkavu (Devi) Temple My mother in law, who used to work at the Telephone exchange, used to tell us stories of arguments and fights and cold wars in the office, for those 10 days All because there is this intense feeling of belonging, each to his or her own Thattakam, or house and wanting to be the better one in front of Vadakkunnathan
You are now going to witness the Pooram, and to get a feel of it, even though you might not understand what is going on, do watch a few seconds of these clips 🙂
1. The Cheru poorams come, and kick off the show: around 6 am.
On Pooram day, the celebrations are begun by the Cherupooram ( the mini pooram) from Kanimangalam Sastha Temple (Sastha means Ayyapa), which arrives with the diety atop a single elephant, resting a while at the Veliyannur Kolassery Lakshminarasimha Moorthy temple, before paying obescience to Lord Vadakkunnathan (Shiva) at dawn.
Thidambu
Elephant with thidambu
The thidambu on which the deity is placed, at the base. This is then placed on the elephant, and held from behind as shown in the next picture, usually by a Namboodiri, a priest. Behind him sit the other men, who hold aloft the parasol or umbrella, the fans made of peacock feather called, aalavattom,and the fluffly cottony things, called, venjaamaram.You can see in the videos, how these are held aloft periodically according to the thaalam [the rhythm] of the music that is played. That makes it four people atop each elephant, during the processions.
Thiruvambady thidambu
This is the thidambu of the Devi of Thiruvambady Krishna Temple (recognized by the peacock feathers adorning the Krishna image on the Thidambu)
2. The Ezhunellippu of Thiruvambady, 7 30 am, approx.
Then comes the ezhunellippu (എഴുനെള്ളിപ്പു്), the preparation to go out, atop the elephant by the Devi of one of the major temples, the Thiruvambady Krishna Temple, at about 7.30 am. The Devi ( whose symbol, or miniature idol, carried on the thidambu) sits atop the central elephant, flanked by two other resplendent tuskers, and they make their way slowly till about 9.30, when they reach Thekke Madhom, the abode of learned scholar sanyasis, who revere and arrange to worship her, and make Her stay with them briefly comfortable!
In the meanwhile, the other 7 mini poorams are all on their way to the central meeting place, called Sreemoolasthaanam, in front of Lord Vadakkunnathan, in Thekkinkkad Maidanam. Glowing, glistening with polished accessories, golden in colour, the nettipattam, on the forehead, the bells around the neck and ankles, the gentle pachyderms carry their precious personages with dignity, and pride, and that something one can just sense 🙂 Each cherupooram, mini pooram, comes before the central deity, pays their respects and leaves with music ringing in the ears. Melams, Panchavaadyams galore. The sounds of enjoyment of the people, louder yet. The waving of hands, in sync with the rhythm of the drumbeats… the kaalams changing, ie the rhythms becoming progressively faster, how can one not get a rush of adrenalin in the excitement?
3. The Madathil Varavu, 11 30 am (മഠത്തിൽ വരവു്)
While the mini poorams are winding their way from different parts of the town to the central deity, the Devi from the Krishan temple is preparing to come out to her beloved Thrissur natives once again, in yet another procession, called the Madhathil Varavu [coming from the Madhom, the place where she rested]. This is much looked forward to item of the day, for the Panchavaadyam (meaning 5 musical instrument: The maddalam, thimila, edakka, elathaalam, and kombu- the first three being percussion, then cymbals, and finally a sort of curved trumpet) , performed by over 50 artists, lined up in front of the three caprisoned elephants. The entire performance has been covered live by AIR for years, and of late, in recent years, by Malayalam Channels like Asianet, Surya and Indiavision. In fact these days you can see the entire pooram sitting at home, in Thrissur, thanks to the Local Cable Networks :D! But then, instead of reducing the number out in the heat, I have found only an increase in that sphere 🙂
At 11.30, the Madhathil Varavu starts, with the performance of the panchavaadyam going on under the shade of a massive banyan tree at the end of Pazhaya Nadakkavu (the name of the road). After almost half an hour of playing, the procession starts. Three elephants become 5 when they enter the central area, the Swaraj Round, then 7, 11 and finally 15 , by about 2pm, when the Panchavaadyam stops, and at that same stroke, the Melam, another musical performance, this time with the traditional chenda coming in, starts. You must understand that while the elephants proceed with the procession, there is no break in the musical perfomance, and the artists walk along with their instruments, playing without missing a beat! Superlative do you not think?!
4. The Ezhunellippu of Paramekkavu, 12 15 pm
At about 12.15, in the meanwhile, the Devi of Paramekkavu Temple is gearing up for her ezhunellippu. She comes out of the temple, atop the central elephant, of 15, arrayed in a single line, a stunning sight that one can never tire of, with a row of muscians in front of her, and a sea of humanity waiting for a glimpse and waiting for the procession to start. The stately passage of 15 elephants walking majestically forward till they read Vadakkunnathan, is indeed breathtaking. They enter the temple by the East Gopuram, and come around to stand in front , just inside the West Gopuram of the temple. On Pooram day, anyone can enter the temple, with any kind of outfit, with footwear 🙂
4.1 The Elanjithara Melam, 2 pm
As the other Devi proceeds from outside to the same West Gopuram, there begins another much awaited performance, by the musicians of the Paramekkavu Temple, the Elanjithara Melam. This too has been broadcast live by AIR, for years… Finally the Melam concludes and the pachyderms with the musicians circumambulate Lord Shiva, past the North, East Gopuram and reach the South Gopuram. An interesting fact is that the South Gate is opened only for two days in a year, for the Pooram, and the previous evening, another Devi temple’s deity has formally permitted it to be open (I am not entirely sure of the story behind that one :)). So the elephants, starting with the one carrying the Devi, herself slowly eases out of the long passage of the gopuram, just wide enough and tall enough to allow it, to the greeting to shouts, cheers, and a rumble of sheer joy that errupts the waiting mass of humanity gathered outside, in the Thekkinkkad Maidanam (forest of Teak), waiting to witness the next major item, the Kudamattom (changing ot the umbrellas, or parasols, atop the pachyderms!)
5. The Kudamattom
This is a moment of goosebumps, especially when you see the sea of people outside raising cheering voices, all of them calling out to the Devis, coming into their midst! The 30 elephants, 15 on each side, face each other, at a respectable distance of about 150 metres [approx. :)] and then begins the Kudamattom [the changing of the umbrellas or parasols. ] You will find a glimpse of these in the videos put in here 🙂 This is a sort of competitive event, where the colourful parasols, umbrellas are changed, in response to the other set, on the opposite side. Innovations, and creativity in the types and shapes of umbrellas are always increasing, year by year. This year there were cut outs of Ganesha, and other deities, flowers, peacocks etc. Each of them is terribly expensive , but then there are sponsors for them, mainly the non Hindus. that is what is so wonderful about it all! The way the entire community comes together to celebrate the festival.
Take at look at this pic. and drink in the multitude witnessing the Kudamattom: (Click on the picture to enlarge)
Kudamattam
The Kudamattom finishes by around 6 30 pm, after which there is a lull in the celebrations, mostly for the reason that people need to recharge for the next session. Lol.
6. The Night Processions
Then at night, around 11 30, there is a procession, similar to the mornings and afternoons, by both temples, when the procession is preceded by people carrying lit torches. A beautiful beautiful sight! People turn out in large numbers for this too!
7. The Fireworks! (വെഡിക്കെട്ടു്)
Finally, the moment of reckoning. That is the moment of fireworks display. Said to the best anywhere in Kerala, because of the intensity of the experience… a small area, surrounded by buildings, people, the Thekkinkkad Maidanam, in front of Vadakkumnathan Temple is the place where the fireworks are laid out. Another competitive item. And it is blasted off at about 3 am, the next day, to be viewed by persons, people, people people around the road, Swaraj Round, atop all the buildings flanking the Round, down all the radial roads, and far as the eye can see, there are people looking up, going oooh and aaah.. and … *sigh* Much as I am against firecrackers and all…. this is one time I forget to feel guilty 🙂 Cant help it, the situation is such!
The fireworks actually begin with one side, either the Paramekkavu or Thiruvambay temple, starting off with small fireworks, then pretty amuttus (അമിട്ടു്), gundus (ഗുണ്ടു്) which are louder, and so on, each of them rising from pits dug in the ground in front of Vadakkunnathan Temple, to the final finishing, as it is called, where you feel, see, and hear in massive explosions, and experience the thrill of it all. A video added below will tell you 🙂
After one side finishes, the other side begins. This is also seen as a very competitive event! By about 5 am, the fireworks display concluded, and the major part of the Pooram is done. Usually, at this point, visitors from other places begin to move out of Thrissur, and buses and trains are jampacked for the next few hours :D!
8. Koodikaazhcha (The final meeting) -കൂടിക്കാഴ്ച
After about 8 am, in the morning, the next day, both the temples bring their Devis, accompanied by their lot of 15 elephants each, and their respective musicians playing the melam and panchavaadyam, to the Eastern gopuram of Vadakkunnathan, at the Sreemoolasthanam. This is a meeting to formally bid farewell, and promise to meet again, on Pooram Nakshatram, the next Medam month of the new Calendar year. Finally, the two elephants carrying the Thidambu of the Devis, come forward, link their trunks, in a gesture of undying loyalty and faith, and familial love, after which they part ways, each to its own temple, carrying the precious Devi proudly aloft for all the natives to finally bid them good bye, till next year.
And that, finally is what my brief report on the Thrissur Pooram is all about. Solilo, I wonder if you are now more informed or confounded. But I must tell you that I loved doing the writing, all of it typed into the new post box, researching, and looking out endlessly for pictures and videos. Gave me the pooram feeling once again! So thank you for that!
If you have read up till here, and are still clear headed, an award for patience for you 🙂 🙂 And if you still want more….
Here are a few more links to look up, if you are interested and have time 🙂
And, yes, i love to limerick || Have tried to master the trick || Of the a a b b a rhyme || 'Tis a joy truly sublime || When a verse comes out slick and quick!
A Quest on Overdrive ... :) 
