THRISSUR POORAM 2020
For the first time in 58 years, Thrissur Pooram, arguably the biggest temple festival in Kerala, has been cancelled in the wake of the nationwide lockdown.
This year's pooram was scheduled to be held on May 3. With the lockdown in place, both Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi devaswom boards jointly decided to cancel the festival and to conduct only the necessary rituals.
The 200-year-old festival, believed to have been started by erstwhile Cochin ruler Shakthan Thampuran, was conducted as a ritual-only event last in 1962 due to the Indo-China war.
The pooram, which marks Kerala's cultural diversity, sees both the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi teams competing each other through elephant procession, fireworks, and stunning cultural representation.
The spectacular event, attended by thousands of people, would take place in front of the Vadakkunnathan temple in the city.
