Thrissur Pooram 2025: Kerala’s Grand Temple Festival Dazzles Once Again

Thrissur Pooram, one of Kerala’s most beautiful temple festivals, was celebrated in grand style on May 7, 2025 at Thekkinkadu Maidanam in the heart of Thrissur district. Often called the "mother of all poorams", this vibrant festival brought together colour, culture, tradition and community spirit in an unforgettable display.

The festival was originally introduced by King Sakthan Thampuran over 200 years ago to unite temples across Thrissur. Today, it continues to uphold that legacy with participation from ten temples, especially the two main ones—Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi.

A major highlight of the Pooram was the magnificent elephant procession. Decorated elephants, adorned with golden headpieces and ornaments, lined up in front of cheering crowds. The iconic "Kudamattam" ritual, where colourful parasols are exchanged atop elephants to rhythmic beats, drew loud applause and excitement from onlookers.

The air resonated with the thunderous rhythms of "Ilanjithara Melam", a traditional percussion performance featuring hundreds of skilled musicians. The synchronised drumming built a charged atmosphere that had the crowd swaying to the beats.

As night fell, the skies lit up with a dazzling fireworks display, which continued for hours and mesmerised the audience. Locals and tourists alike stayed up into the early morning hours to witness the visual extravaganza.

The festival concluded with a farewell ceremony, bringing an end to the vibrant celebration. Thrissur Pooram remains a shining example of Kerala’s cultural richness and religious harmony, attracting thousands each year with its blend of devotion, tradition and spectacle.