The diversity of India can be mind boggling and mind numbing at the same time and no amount of travelling can prepare you for the amazing scenes you come across while traversing this landscape. We are spell bound right now because of this spectacular and colourful festival that we came across down south. It is called Thrissur Pooram and is a colourful temple festival of Kerala.
This festival is held at the Vadakkunnathan temple in Thrissur every year on the day when the moon rises with the Pooram star. According to the English calendar, this festival is celebrated around the 28th of April but the date may vary according to the Malayalam calendar. The most interesting fact about this festival is that it was started by Raja Rama Varma because he was not allowed to attend a nearby festival because of being late. This festival is a representation of pomp and glamour like no other because of the intermingling of colour and religion.
The festivities begin seven days prior to the actual festival, with activities like folk dancing, rhythmic beating of drums and spectacular fireworks. It is a visual feast with elephants being the main attraction, decorated in their gold headdress, decorative bells, palm leaves and peacock feathers, along with beautifully crafted paintings. As if this was not enough, the elephant riders also carry ornate parasols on extremely tall bamboo poles to add colour to the already colourful procession!
The folk dancers are another eye-catching feature of the show, dressed in colourful attire, they add to the vibrancy of the festival. The stunning fireworks are another beautiful addition; however, the most spectacular thing about this festival is the colourful delight that it is. The vivid colours and the vibrant energy here are a compelling treat to the senses.
For the locals, it is a grand celebration they have every year but for us visitors, it is an experience that will leave a colourful imprint on your memory! It will be a memory of an epic Indian gathering, a grand religious ceremony and a lively and colourful celebration replete with fireworks. Well, it sounds like everything we Indians ask for in our festivities!
