Thrissur, Sunday, May 01, 2011: Thrissur Pooram, worlds most colourful and fabulous festival, with a spectacular harmony of elephant procession, percussion and fireworks, is widely known as mother of all ‘poorams’.

This spectacular festival is marked by the visual gorgeousness, numbers of gold caparisoned elephants gather in a single place, amazing firework display, rhythmic and magical sounds of Panchavadyam, colourful Kudamattam, excited and fervent crowd – simply no comparison with any other festival.

Thrissur Pooram celebrated every year in the month of Medam (mid-April to mid-may) as per the Malayalam calendar. This years Thrissur Pooram will be held on Thursday, May 12th, 2011. This is the biggest temple festival in Kerala celebrated in the premises of Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur district. The ground surrounding the temple is known as Thekkinkadu Maidan is the venue for Pooram.
Thrissur Pooram was introduced by Maharaja Sakthan Thampuran.
It is celebrated as a Competition between two rival groups

Thiruvambadi and Paramekavu temples. Rival groups take efforts every year to bring best elephants as they are allowed to display maximum 15 elephants, come up with display of fireworks with new effects and colours moreover intense competition for presenting artistic, innovative, beautiful parsols which has to be raised on the elephants.

Competing groups beautifully decorate their elephants with Nettipattam, Kolam and stand opposite to opposite and change their umbrellas which are an array of vibrant colours on top of the elephant during the pooram. It is no wonder Thrissur Pooram is ultimate visual feast to spectators.

Thrissur Pooram is certainly a religious ceremony proving its religious harmony at the same time it is a cultural extravaganza which attract large number of devotees and spectators from different parts of India as well as outside.

(News agency inputs)