Thrissur: Much to the delight and excitement of the pooram lovers, the world famous Thrissur pooram has begun with the flag hoisting ceremony. The main pooram or the festival is on May 13th, while the sample firework is on May 11th. At the dawn on 14th, the audience could enjoy a thrilling firework which will light up the skies of Thrissur, followed by the colourful pakalpooram in the morning.
The flag hoisting ceremonies were conducted in the Thiruvambadi, Paramekkavu and 8 other temples on Tuesday. It is the local residents who perform the flag hoisting ceremonies at these temples and this is a unique tradition here.
At Paramekkavu, the idol of Goddess Bhagavati was carried on the tusker named Devidasan to the kokkarni of the Vadakkunnathan temple, for the aarattu ceremony. The percussion ensemble or the melam was led by Perumvanam Kuttan Marar. The flag, on which a blessing pooja was performed by Dinesan Namboothiri at Thirruvampady was used for the flag hoisting ceremony. The idol of Goddess Bhagavathy was carried by Thiruvampady Chandrasekharan. Minister VS Sunil Kumar had attended the flag hoisting ceremonies at both the temples.
Flags were subsequently hoisted at the blackboard tree at the courtyard of the Paramekkavu temple and also on the Naduvilal and Naykanal banyan trees at the Thiruvampady temple. The flag hoisting ceremonies were also conducted in Kanimangalam Sastha temple, Chembukavu Karthyani temple, Panamukkumpilli Sastha temple, Pookattikara Karamukku temple, Lalur Karthyani temple, Choorakattukara Kavilamma temple, Ayyanthol Karthyani temple and Kuttoor Neythalakavu temple.
On the main festival day, special processions would be conducted from these temples to the Vadakkunnathan in the evening. Parayeduppu or acceptance of a measurement of paddy from the homes of the devotees would be conducted on all days until the main pooram, by the various temples.