Thrissur, Tuesday 10 May 2011: Described as the ‘cultural capital’ of Kerala, Thrissur is all set to host Thursday the annual ‘Thrissur Pooram’ – the state’s temple festival that attracts tens of thousands of people.

The parade of caparisoned elephants accompanied by captivating percussion support – the ‘melam’ – by teams of top professional artists will culminate Thursday evening with the famous ‘kudamaattam’ – the display of colourful umbrellas moved in rapid succession across the top of the lined-up elephants.

The festival will conclude in the wee hours of Friday with a magnificent display of fireworks that lasts for over an hour. According to the festival authorities, everything is in place for the ‘big day’.
With small Poorams from neighbouring temples in Thrissur joining the ceremonies from early morning, the festival is a day-long affair that leads to the fireworks late night.

The Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi Devaswoms will hold a ‘sample vedikettu,’ the first round of fireworks, as part of Thrissur Pooram celebrations, today.

Thiruvambadi Devaswam will kick off the ‘sample vedikkettu’ by 7 p.m. Thousands will throng the Swaraj Round and nearby lanes to witness the mighty display of pyrotechnics.

The pyrotechnicians of the Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu Devaswams are busy preparing innovative patterns and varieties of fire works, which make spectators, go into raptures.

Preparations for Thrissur Pooram, to be celebrated on May 12, are on in full swing. The district administration has tightened security in the town. A 2,600-member strong police force would be deployed in the city on the Pooram day, according to City Police Commissioner P. Vijayan.

The services of a team of 40 specially trained personnel from the Disaster Management Force would also be available for crowd management.

The service of Revenue, Police, Fire and Rescue Force, Transport and Health departments would be available at the 24-hour control room, said District Collector P.G. Thomas. The doctors of the medical college hospital and the private hospitals in the city would be pressed into service. The KSRTC would run special services.

(News agency)