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Shubhyatra >> Kerala Yatra >> Elephant Festival At Thrissur

ELEPHANT FESTIVAL IN KERALA

Location : Thrissur, 83 km north of Kochi
Celebrated At : Thekkinkadu Maidan outside the Vadakkunathan Temple
Major Attraction : Line of beautifully caparisoned elephants, fireworks
When To Go : April to May

Elephant Festival At Thrissur - Here We Are Now, Entertain Us

Elephant Festival Thrissur
Elephant Festival - Thrissur

If you wonder what else you can do beside cruising on the backwaters, getting an ayurvedic massage and messing with the sands, you should reshuffle your thoughts, because aptly you are in God's own country. You will always find something or the other to elevate your spirits - be it mist-clad mountains or handsomely decorated elephants at Thrissur. 'Puram', the most colourful temple festival of Thrissur (or Trichur, as is known locally), attracts thousands of people to witness the grand elephant procession. Apparantly, no celebration in Kerala is complete without an elephant pageant. The gentle pachyderm has been revered a noble position and accorded the privilege of fetching numerous gods and goddesses of this land. Interestingly, many well-to-do families in Kerala, until a few years ago, owned an elephant which was considered as a member of the household.

A Festival For The People, By The People And With The People

Considered to be a people's festival, the 'Pooram' is held at the Thekkinkadu Maidan outside the Vadakkunathan Temple in the Malayali month of Medam (April-May). Beautifully caparisoned elephants in two processions representing the Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu temples, compete to create impressive sights and sounds. The celebration eventuates in the early hours of the dawn and continues till the break of the next day. Each group is allowed to perform with a maximum of fifteen elephants and extensive efforts are made by each party to insure the best elephants of South India and the most colourful and artistic cloaks, several kinds of which are raised on the elephants during the display. The commissioning of elephants and parasols is done while maintaining an utmost secrecy by each party to surpass the other. The mammoths decorated with gold ornaments, each ridden with three priests, are a splendid sight to behold. Tourists can crowd at the maidan with their loved ones and see the elephants stand still, ears flapping nonchalantly. Soon a magnificent work of fireplay will enchant you as hundreds of cylindrical drums of the Chenda Melam orchestra rise to a deafning crescendo. The procession of the Thiruvambadi Pooram to the grounds of Vadakkunnatha Temple and back is not only fascinating, but much more than that. Listen to the magical euphony of the 'Panchavadyam', a combination of five percussion and wind instruments, a joy to the ears that is to be felt to be described. The revelry continues all night with the Vadakkunathan Temple act as a backdrop in a blaze of coloured lights.

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Choose Your Way

The Thrissur 'Puram' being one of the most celebrated festivals of this southern state of Kerala, attracts thousands of spectators during the festive time. Special KSRTC buses are also regulated between Thrissur and other destinations like Guruvayur, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Coimbatore, Kozhikode and Trivandrum. The nearest airhead is the Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery, 45 km from Thrissur. One can fly upto there, then get a cab to reach the festive destination. However, if you are planning to come from Ernakulam (79 km) or Trivandrum (275 km), you have to drive on NH 47 that links Salem to Kanyakumari.

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Top 5 Highlights of Elephant Festival At Thrissur


Thrissur Pooram

Thrissur - The Cultural Capital of Kerala
Plan a holiday trip to Thrissur in Kerala and witness how tradition blends impeccably with religion, making a date for heart-rippling enjoyment. Walk along the streets of Trissur and see locales dressed in colourful attires painting a new world of divinity at every corner of their city.


The Charm of Thrissur Puram
Thrissur Puram is a two-centuries old temple festival known for its unique pomp and pageantry. Watch the breathtaking parade of 30 richly caparisoned elephants at the Vadakkumnathan temple, each escorted with three efficient priests sitting atop them.


Magnificent Play of Light and Sound
Thrissur Pooram, one of the best known festivals of the world, is indeed a colourful and vibrant show of culture. One will be spellbound to see a wide array of elephants accompanied by the fabulous performances by musicians and percussion artists.


See The Fire In The Sky
The Thrissur festival is also known for a grand display of fireworks in the night. A variety of fireworks lit up dark canopy above Thrissur, which is a lovely scene to behold.


Get To Know The Royal Porter
After the Thrissur Pooram, don't miss the chance to have a chit chat with the 'mahouts' of the temple elephants. Get to know their lifestyle that can be as varied as Kerala itself.


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