Pooram festivities begin in Kerala

A total of eight small poorams from nearby places like Kanimangalam, Panamukkumpilli, Chembukavu, Karamukku, Laloor, Choorakkottukavu, Ayyanthole and Neithilakkavu, with idols placed on caprisoned elephants have started arriving at the 'Sannidhanam' (sanctum sanctorum) of Vadakkumnnathan temple in the heart of Thrissur.

These poorams will converge with the main poorams of Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady this afternoon to the accompaniment of the best percussion instrument players.

The main participants in the festival are the deities from Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady temples. The exciting feature of the pooram is the 'Pandimelam' (drum concerts) at noon.
The annual pooram fete, a grand spectacle of colour, sound and music pageantry and scintillating pyrotechnics had its origin in 1798 through a royal declartion of the then Raja Rama Varma, popularly known as Shakthan Thampuran, a powerful ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Cochin.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made in the city for the smooth conduct of the Pooram festival.