Thousands gather before Vadakkunnathan as Ernakulam Sivakumar performs Thrissur Pooram 'vilambaram'

The Thrissur Pooram proclamation was held Saturday with thousands assembling before the Thekke Gopura Nada (south gate) of the Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple.

Elephant Ernakulam Sivakumar carried the 'thidambu' (idol) of Naithalakkavu Bhagavathy (the chief deity of the temples participating in the Pooram).

Sivakumar, the tallest elephant of the Cochin Devaswom Board, had been chosen for the ritual a third time.

There was a huge demand for the tusker Techikottukavu Ramachandran, popularly known as Rama Rajavu, to perform the ritual.

Ramachandran had carried the 'thidambu' before with a lot of fanfare but was overlooked this time as he is blind to one eye and had displayed unruly behaviour at times.

However, Ramachandran will participate in the Pooram to be held on Sunday, along with other popular tuskers namely Pambady Rajan, Cheruplassery Manikandan, Cheruplassery Sree Ayyappan, Machad Dharman and Puthuppally Arjunan among others.