VADAKKUMNATHAN TEMPLE - ART & CULTURE
- Location: Vadakkumnathan Temple,
Kerala.
- Significance: One of the largest and
ancient Shiva temples in Kerala.
- Architecture: Classic example of
Kerala style architecture.
- Festival Name: Anayoottu.
- Timing: Held during the Malayalam
month of Karkidakam, in June/July.
- Purpose: Ritualistic feeding ceremony
of elephants.
- Cultural Belief: Worshipping Lord
Ganesha, the elephant-faced deity, to remove obstacles.
- Offerings: Sugarcane, rice, ghee,
coconut, and jaggery.
- Ayurvedic Connection: Karkidakam is
considered a month for body rejuvenation and Ayurveda therapies.
- Ritual: Conducted by the chief
priest, who performs the offering.
The Thrissur Pooram is an annual Hindu
temple festival held in Thrissur, Kerala, India.
- It
is held at the Vadakkunnathan (Shiva) Temple in Thrissur every
year on the Pooram—the day when the moon rises with the Pooram star in
the Malayalam Calendar month of Medam.
- It
is the largest and most famous of all poorams in India.
History
- Thrissur
Pooram was the brainchild of Rama Varma Kunhjippilla Thampuran,
or Rama Varma IX, famously known as Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of
Cochin.
- Before
the start of Thrissur Pooram, the largest temple festival in Kerala was
the one-day festival held at Aarattupuzha known as Arattupuzha Pooram.
- In
the year 1798 because of incessant rains, the temples from Thrissur were
late for the Arattupuzha Pooram and were denied access to the Pooram
procession. Feeling embarrassed and angered by the denial, the temple
authorities raised the issue with Sakthan Thampuran.
- This
made him take the decision to unify the 10 temples situated around
Vadakkunnathan Temple and organized the celebration of Thrissur Pooram as
a mass festival.
Sources: https://www.keralatourism.org/monsoon-festivals/festival.php?id=17