Kerala - Thrissur   

Vagaries of weather let down Thrissur Pooram fans

T. Ramavarman

Heavy rain fails to dampen the festive spirit as thousands of people attend celebrations

FAREWELL: The `Vidavangal' ceremony on Thursday which marked the finale of Thrissur Pooram.

THRISSUR: This year's Thrissur Pooram, which concluded on Thursday evening will go down in the annals of the history of this popular cultural pageantry of Kerala as one which was at nature's mercy.

For the tens of thousands of Pooram fans who had gathered from different parts of the State and outside at the historic Thekkinkadu Maidan at the heart of the Thrissur city, rain played hide and seek with the event and some even ascribed it to an act of `forces up there'.

Rescheduling

There were some previous occasions in the past also when the Pooram had become a washout, and the organizers had to reschedule some of the items of this 30-hour long festival.

But this year's festival, considered to be the 200th edition by some of its chroniclers, demonstrated the resolve of the people to retain its stature as the most exciting cultural extravaganza of north Kerala.

Rain worries

The moderate showers that started around 2 p.m. on Wednesday could not dampen the spirits of the scintillating percussion concert `Elanjithara Melam' held around that time.

Later when heavy rain, accompanied by gusty winds lashed the city just after the beginning of the `Kudamattam' (exchange of parasols) in the afternoon, they went on dancing, cheerfully yelling and waving their hands each time a set of parasols were exchanged by the friendly rivals of the Pooram, the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms.

Though fully drenched, the vast multitude of Pooram fans, who had flocked together at the small area of Thekke Gopura Nada in between the two array of 15 caparisoned elephants, did not move out till the elephants were taken out after the organizers decided to abandon the event halfway in the wake of the heavy rains, wind and lightning.

The charm of Thrissur Pooram is that it even affects its critics when the exciting events of the festival start unfolding right from the day of sample fire-works display, held usually two days before the day of final gala.

A visual treat

The festival is a tremendous treat for the audience with its display of colours and scintillating percussion concerts, processions of caparisoned elephants, and the amazing fire-works display.

But the participation of the people from all walks of life and of all shades of beliefs is the most important factor that makes the Pooram an important annual celebration of this part of the State.

Many of the items of the Pooram are fraught with risks, such as the procession of so many caparisoned elephants and the conduct of the fire-works display amidst such a vast gathering of people.

But the discipline and the pride of the people in this festival results in preventing any major untoward incident.

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