The 'Kudamattam' ceremony at Thrissur Pooram is famous for the mesmerising array of parasols that are displayed in front of a sea of festival lovers at the Thekkinkadu Maidan.

The devaswoms of Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu kept the Pooram lovers guessing with every change (maattam) of parasols as they competed to outdo each other.

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But it wasn't just the designer and LED parasols of gods and goddesses that were on display at this year's Pooram.

Thiruvambady, literally packed a surprise when they brought up cutouts of Argentine football great Lionel Messi atop caparisoned elephants.

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As lights dimmed, a message in LED flashed across: "Thiruvambady devaswothinte poora ashamsakal" (Pooram greetings from Thiruvambady devaswom).

If a show of power was what Thiruvambady wished to display, what could beat the image of the World Cup in the hands of the man many regard as the God of the beautiful game.

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