Stock Image No: TPM 044Trichur Pooram Photo collection 2007 : 43
A close up of Caparisoned Tusker at Paramekkavu Temple.
Adhering to the medieval Peruvanam tradition, the festival is confined to the temples of Devi (goddess) and Sastha (divine combination of Shiva and Vishnu). Ten deities from the neighboring temples pay obeisance to the presiding deiety of Thrissur and only spectator of the Pooram events, Lord Siva at the Sree Vadakkunnathan temple, situated in the heart of the town.
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Principle participants are Paramekkavu and Tiruvambadi, close to the Vadakunnathan temple. Also participating and known as 'Cherupooram' are the suburban temples at Kanimangalam, Karamukku, Choorakkattukara, Laloor, Ayyanthole, Neithilakkavu, Chembukkavu and Panamukkampilly altogether 8 deities. The sprawling Thekkinkadu maidan, en circling the Vadakumnathan temple, is the main venue of the festival and usually known as Thrissur Swaraj Round.
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Pageant at Paramekkavu Temple. Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple at Trichur is one of the largest Bagavathi temples in Kerala.
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Before the advent of Thrissur Pooram, the lar temple festival during summer in Thrissur Taluk was the one-day festival held at Arattupuzha, 12 km south of the town. Temples in and around Thrissur were regular participants of this religious exercise until they were once denied entry by the responsible chief of the Peruvanam area of Cherpu, known for its Namboodiri supremacy. As an act of reprisal and also in a bid to assuage their wounded feelings, Raja Rama Varma (1751-1805), also known as Sakthan Thampuran the ruler of the Cochin state invited all these temples to bring their deities to Thrissur where they could pay obeiance to Lord (Sri) Vadakunnathan, the deity of the Vadakkunnathan Temple. Further he directed the main temples of Thrissur, Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu, to extend all help and support to these temples. It is this historical background that determines the course of the Pooram program and it is specifically the ruler's antipathy to the Brahmin aristocracy to open Thrissur pooram for the common man.
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The Aranmula Boat Race takes place at Aranmula, Kerala near a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and Arjuna. Thousands of people gather on the banks of the river Pampa to watch the snake boat races. Nearly 40 snake boats or "chundan vallams" participate in the festival. The oarsmen sing traditional boat songs and wear white dhotis and turbans. The golden lace at the head of the boat, the flag and the ornamental umbrella at the center make it a show of pageantry too.
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Each snake boat belongs to a village along the banks of the river Pampa. Every year the boats are oiled mainly with fish oil, coconut shell, and carbon, mixed with eggs to keep the wood strong and the boat slippery in the water. The village carpenter carries out annual repairs and people take pride in their boat, which is named after and represents their village.
Stock Image No: MNR - 116Mist covered Tea Plantations, en route Mattupetty , Munnar
In 2000, the Government of Kerala declared Munnar as a tourist spot. This has helped in attracting more tourists to this beautiful hill resort. Several protected wildlife areas in the area attract many tourists who support the many hotels, restaurants and transport businesses in Munnar.
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Stock Image No: MNR - 115Misty mountains and Tea Plantations, Mattupetty , Munnar
Munnar is almost entirely occupied by Tata Tea, one of the Tata Group of companies. The entire area is known as "high range" and rarely Kannan Devan Hills, from which the famous brand of the Tatas gets its name.
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Stock Image No: MNR - 113Kundala Lake near Mattupetty , Munnarकुंदाला लेक, मुननार, केरल
During the British rule of India, Munnar was developed to cultivate tea plants. At that time, most of the people around the area were employed as laborers for plantations throughout the area. In the early stages of development, only Tamilians and a small number of Malayalis inhabited Munnar.
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Stock Image No: MNR - 114Kundala Lake near Mattupetty , Munnarकुंदाला लेक, मुननार, केरल
The region in and around Munnar varies in height from 1,600 meters (5,249.3 ft) to 1,800 meters (5,905.5 ft) above mean sea level. Munnar enjoys a salubrious climate. The weather ranges between 0 °C (32 °F) and +10 °C (50 °F) in winter and +15 °C (59 °F) and +25 °C (77 °F) in summer. The tourist season is from August to May.
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