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Pooram

The "Pooram" festival is held in the month of either April or May. This name has originated from the constellation of stars. The scene of "Pooram" activity is the "Thekkam Kad" ground which is indeed a circular hillock, about 60 acres in extent with a fairly wide road encircling it. In the center of the mound is the magnificent "Saivite" temple called "Vadakkunathan", the Lord of North, who plays only the role of a spectator during these festivities. The festival begins with the flag-hoisting ceremony called "Kodiyettam". This is observed in all participating temples. On the eve of "Pooram" day, the committed (devaswoms) in charge of the two temples, exhibit sparkling and colorful ornaments that will decorate the elephants on the next day in the halls adjoining these temples. This attracts a large crowd.

The day prior to the "Pooram" also witnesses the arrival of the "celebrities" of the festival - the extraordinary tuskers! A "mahout" and a "kavadi" attendant escort each elephant. The "Paramakkavu" and "Thiruvambadi" temples put up 15 tuskers each while the "Siru Poorams" organize five to six elephants. Though the temples may own one or two elephants, the rest are hired for the duration of the festival. In fact, at one point, this engendered a tense rivalry between the "Paramakkavu" and "Thiruvambadi" devaswoms because of their keenness to hire the tallest tuskers at much higher rates! This rivalry was happily put to an end with the two devaswoms agreeing to hire the best elephants, dividing them into two sets of 15 and using the two sets by turn.