Kochi: Kerala is one of the few places on earth which has taught the world the mantra of peaceful coexistence of humans and animals and Thrissur Pooram is one such event. Even as pachyderms have claimed a large number of lives during temple festivals or other events from time immemorial, people continue to love the participation of pachyderms in festivals without any fear.
Without elephants one cannot think of holding festivals in the majority of temples in the state. The major attraction of Thrissur Pooram, the king of festivals, is the participation of a large number of elephants. They bring the Thidambu, replica of deity, of eight ten temples of Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi temples to Vadakkumnathan Siva temple based at Thekkinkkadu ground spread across hundreds of acres where they line up for the people to enjoy their beauty.
The exchange of colourful umbrellas by those people sitting on top of elephants is another key event which allures countless people to the place. It is the presence of elephants that attracts the thousands.
The pooram coincides with the relocation of wild elephant Arikkomban at Periyar Tiger Reserve in Idukki.
The elephant was taken away after there was a series of protests by some people living in the corridor seeking protection from the elephant. This has triggered a controversy with another section opposing the action to relocate the elephant done on the basis of a Kerala High Court directive.
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