Thrissur Pooram kicks off: Where to watch festival live online
- At 2 pm, Vadakkunnathan Temple will witness a grand percussion performance of breathtaking speed
- After the melam, both Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi will array themselves for Kudamattam
It's the grand finale of Thrissur Pooram, a tourist attraction held in Kerala's cultural capital annually, and popular for its colourful fireworks and caparisoned elephants.
Pooram is a spectacle that has thrilled and mesmerised spectators for more than 200 years. Lakhs of people take part in the grand old festival every year, while hundreds of elephants are used in various rituals associated with the event.
Major events today
Ilanjithara Melam: At 2 pm, the Vadakkunnathan Temple will witness a grand percussion performance of breathtaking speed, consisting of Thimila, Madhalam, Trumpet, Cymbal and Edakka, involving more than 200 artists and lasting over three hours.
Kudamattam: After the Ilanjithara melam, both Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi groups enter the temple, come out through the southern gate and array themselves, face to face. In the presence of melam, the two groups exchange colourful and crafted umbrellas competitively at the top of the elephants, called Kudamattom, an eye-catching attraction. Later, all cherupoorams conclude at Nilapaduthara near the western gate.