Kochi: King of festivals in Kerala, Thrissur Pooram, began on Saturday morning with goddess Neythalakkavilamma opening the southern end gate of Lord Siva’s Vadakkunnathan Temple on Saturday morning.
Amidst people mourning the death of 16 people in a fire mishap in a cracker unit the other day, the festival began on a mourning note.
Carrying the replica of goddess Neythalakkavilamma, the 60-year-old tusker Ernakulam Sivakumar opened the gate symbolizing the commencement of the 36-hour-long festivities culminating on April 27.
Vilambaram, announcement, ritual began in the morning with the procession going from Neythalakkavu Bhagavathy Temple to Sreemoola Sthanam, near Vadakkunnathan Temple where the traditional Pandi melam was held under the leadership of Kizhakkoot Aniyan Marar.
The Goddess mounted on the tusker
circled the Vadakkumnathan Temple before exiting through the southern gopuram gate to announce the commencement of the festival.
Unlike every year, the traditional
The sample fireworks scheduled for Friday evening were suspended due to the fire tragedy.
The key events on April 26 are Madathil Varavu at 11:30 AM, Ilanjithara Melam at 2:30 PM, and the famous exchange of parasol (kudamattom) at 5.30 PM.
The festival is a competition by two groups of temples led by Thiruvambadi temple and Paramekkavu temple to please Lord Siva the presiding deity of Vadakkunnathan Temple.
Photo: X
Thrissur Pooram begins
