Thrissur Pooram gets underway

THRISSUR: Kerala’s most spectacular elephant and fireworks festival, Thrissur Pooram, got underway this morning with colourful pageants from temples in and around the city wending their way to Vadakkumnathan temple where the festivities will culminate in the wee hours tomorrow.

The city is flooded with thousands of Pooram fans, as processions began from different directions led by caparisoned elephants with the accompaniment of temple orchestra.

The processions would converge at the Thekkinkadu ‘maidan’ before noon where the famous ‘Elanjithara melam,’ would be held in which a large number of artists playing drums, pipes and cymbals would line up.

The pooram will culminate with its most spectacular show – the fireworks display – in the wee hours tomorrow.

Though restrictions placed on the scale of fireworks, elephant parade and decibel levels this year had cast a shadow on the festival initially, the curbs have been relaxed by the authorities considering the religious, historical and cultural importance of the event.