New Delhi: After a two-year hiatus, Kerala is celebrating its famed temple festival, Thrissur Pooram, on Tuesday, with traditional fervour. Tens of thousands of people flocked to the Thekkinkadu Maidan in Thrissur in the morning to witness the elephant parade. Though Thrissur Pooram is specific to Thrissur's Vadakkumnathan temple, the age-old festival is held in several other temples in the state too. The participating temples visit Vadakkumnathan Temple and return to their respective villages, as per tradition.
Thrissur Pooram is a seven-day long festival that is celebrated by people of all caste, and religions in Kerala. The cultural festival's centre of attractions are folk dance, elephant parade, rhythmic drum beats (Panchavadyam) and fireworks.
The Thrissur Pooram ceremonies began with an elephant parade at the ground in the cultural capital of the state at 7.30 am on Tuesday, The New Indian Express reported.
Elephant Runs Amok
Earlier, an elephant brought in for Thrissur Pooram ran amok on the ground on Monday. The irked elephant tried to run as its mahout took a washroom break. It was brought under control after the mahout returned, but not before giving some anxious moments to the crowd. No damage was reported.
Special Arrangements For Women
According to a report in The New Indian Express, the district administration has made adequate arrangements to ensure the safety of women coming to attend Kudamattam at Thekkinkadu maidan. "Bullet patrolling and Kudumbashree She Taxi services will be made available,” Revenue Minister K Rajan was quoted as saying on Monday. As many as 50 women civil-defence volunteers have been deployed. Besides, an enclosure, which can accommodate 250 women, has been set up near the police control room, and it will be guarded by women police officers.