Travel
Sites Visit
Goa, Karnataka,
Kerala, Tamil
Nadu, Andhra Pradesh in South
India, Delhi, Rajasthan,
Uttar Pradesh, Himachal
Pradesh in North India, Assam, Bengal,
Sikkim in East India |
| |
|
Go
to : Index
File Kerala
celebrates Thrissur Pooram Thrissur:
Hundreds of thousands of devotees gathered at Thrissur town in Kerala for
Thrissur Pooram, one of the most colourful and grandest temple festivals. The
festival witnesses 30 richly caparisoned elephants divided into two rival groups
facing each other in the temple premises amidst drum beats and frenzied shouting
of devotees. As part of the 'Pooram', elephants carry the idols of different temple
deities in a procession which culminate at the ancient Vadakkumnathan temple,
dedicated to Lord Shiva. Tourists from abroad flocked in large numbers to witness
the festival. "Very nice here on Pooram because you see all the elephants, and
the culture," said Francises, a tourist from Germany. The foreign tourists enjoyed
the festivity. "We are so impressed by the participation of all the Indian community.
For us, it is a first time, we are coming here," said Alexander, a tourist from
England. This festival is one of the biggest festivals in Kerala as no other festival
draws such an unbelievable number of people to a single event. It is believed
that King Sakthan, who ruled Cochin in the late 18th century, started the festival.
The word "Pooram" literally means a group or a meeting. It is believed that the
gods and goddesses meet on the day of celebration, which falls in the month of
April-May every year. -May 4,
2009 | | |
|