Thrissur: The famous Thrissur Pooram from Kerala started here on Thursday and kept strict COVID-19 protocols after the peasant Ernakulam Sivakumar, with the idol of Neythilakavu Bhagavathy, opened the southern gate of the ancient Vadakkunnathan temple.
In view of the increase in COVID-19 In cases in the state, only a very limited number of people were allowed to attend the ritual ‘Pooram Vilambaram’ (festival proclamation), which marks the beginning of the Thrissur Pooram.
Earlier, the state government decided to organize the Pooram celebrations which will be held on April 23 without people participating in it.
Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady Devaswoms – the two major organizers of the Pooram Festival – have agreed to organize the festival without spectators.
The entry is limited to those associated with the pooram rituals.
Officials said the pass will only be issued to participants who have RT-PCR negative certificates secured within 72 hours, or certificates of two doses of vaccination against the COVID.
Although Paramekkavu Devaswom has decided to scale down the pooram celebrations to be held on April 23, they will parade 15 elephants for the festival and organize the famous Ilanjithara Melam, a collection of percussion artists performing under the Ilanji tree at the courtyard of the Vadakkunnathan temple is held.
Thiruvambady Devswom said they would only hold rituals as part of pooram and that only one elephant would be paraded from their side as the spread of COVID-19 in the district.
Last year, the Pooram Festival was held amidst the lowest interest COVID-19 lock-up curbs with only a handful of people and inevitable rituals in the Vadakkunnathan temple.
Thrissur Pooram, an annual event held in the sprawling Thekkinkadu Maidan in the city of Thrissur over the poor star in the Malaysian month of Medam, is known for its parade of richly-carved jumbo, performing traditional music ensembles, fireworks and ‘ a sea of cheering people.
The festival is a gathering of Pooram and jumbo lovers around the world who can be seen dancing to the rhythm of percussion instruments.
The two-century-old Thrissur Pooram originated in 1798, through a royal edict of the then Raja Rama Varma, popularly known as Shakthan Thampuran, a powerful ruler of the former princely state of Cochin.
Source: Telangana Today