Pooram

For the Malayalam film, see Pooram (film).
Pooram
Official name Pooram (Malayalam)
Observed by Malayalis esp. Hindus
Type Temple Festival
Observances Melam, Elephant Show, Kuthira Vela, Kala Vela, Folk Arts, Shadow Puppetry
Date Summer
Caparisoned elephants during Sree Poornathrayesa temple festival, Thrippunithura.
Caparisoned elephants and Panchavadyam performance during Sree Poornathrayesa temple festival, Thrippunithura.

Pooram pronounced [puːɾam] is an annual festival, which is celebrated in temples dedicated to goddesses Durga or Kali held especially in Valluvanadu area and other adjoining parts of north-central Kerala (Present Palakkad, Thrissur and Malappuram districts) after the summer harvest. Harimattom pooram is the one of the famous pooram in ernakulam. Most pooram festivals have at least one ornately decorated elephant being paraded in the procession taken out of the temple precincts. However, there are some well known poorams, such as Aryankavu Pooram at shoranur Palakkad and Machad mamangam near Wadakkanchery that do not use the caparisoned elephant, instead go for stilted mannequins of horses or bullocks. Vela is also a festival like pooram. Chinakathoor pooram is famous for the vedikkettu held in this festival. Thrissur Pooram is the most famous of all poorams and Chinakathoor pooram tops the list of velas. The second best known Pooram in Kerala is Uthralikavu Pooram. Some other well-known pooram festivals are Arattupuzha-Peruvanam Pooram, Nenmara Vallangi Vela, Chinakathoor pooram, Mannarkkad Pooram, Harimattom Pooram and Thirumandhamkunnu Pooram.

Musical ensembles

A melam is a classical performance of different kind of musical instruments that are unique to Kerala and is something akin to the jazz. The most traditional of all melams is called Pandi Melam which is generally performed outside the temple, during the festival. Another kind of melam is called Panchari Melam, which is similar to Pandi Melam going by the kind of instruments, but played inside the temple and following a different rhythmic beat.

Panchavadyam (pancha in Sanskrit means five) is another classical musical ensemble performed in Kerala. Here, five different kinds of instruments create a breathtaking and fastmoving percussion performance. The five instruments are Madhalam, Kombu, Edakka, Elathalam and Timila.

Thayambaka is a type of solo chenda performance that developed in the south Indian state of Kerala, in which the main player at the centre improvises rhythmically on the beats of half-a-dozen or a few more chenda and ilathalam players around.

Other attractions

Interesting attractions of Pooram can be seen in the Valluvanad and Talappilly region. There is the Harijan Vela or Parayar Vela as well as the Tholpavakoothu, a traditional shadow puppetry show. Harimattom Temple is situated near Tripunithura. just 7 km from there. The temple festival is started on malayalm month medam star UTTRAM. The main highlight of the festival is harimattom pooram which is on the 7th day of the festival. The main attraction of this pooram is kudamattam and famous pandimellam with the presents of most the famous 10 elephants from Kerala. The one of the most important things is the Harimattom pooram and festival is conducting as per keeping the Kerala tradition, beliefs and culture.

Ottapalam Pooram

See also

Thrissur Pooram

Uthralikavu Pooram

Machad Mamangam

Chinnakathoor pooram

Nemara vallangy vela

Kolam pooram

Edakkunni Uthram Vilakku

Elephants in Kerala culture

Nalukulangara

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