Off Topic / Historical Background
« on: January 17, 2009, 06:37:33 pm »Kerala also know as God's own country for its natural beauty was for centuries known on land of festivals and feasts. Thrissur, the cultural hub of Kerala where paroom is celebrated in the malayalam month of medam [April/May]. The two -century old festivals involve hundreds of decorative elephants lined-up with enthralling performers of chenda-melam [music loved by god], which witnesses thousands of people from various walks of life. The thirty-six-hour event is the mother of all poorams [feast], which is heart throbbing and starts from 6.am and ends up at 12 noon next day.
The word pooram literally names a group or a meeting. It is believed that on the Malayalam month of medam that god and goddess of neighboring province meets and enjoy the celebration every year
Trichur puram is also remembering as festival of liberation and freedom. Prince Rama Varma [1751-1805] also known as Sakthan Thampuran, then the architect of Thrissur puts an end to Namboodiri supremacy [Higher caste]. Once upon the largest temple festival in central kerala was a one-day festival at Aarattupuzha, 12 Km south of town. Temples in and around Thrissur were regularly participated in the religious feast, until the religious exercises were denied entry by chief of Peravanam area of Cherup, a place known for its higher caste supremacy. To put an end to Namboodiri supremacy and liberate people from wounded feelings, Prince Rama Varma- then ruler of the Cochin state- invited these temples to bring their deities to Thrissur and pay obeisance to Lord Vadakunnathan, the deity of Vadakunnathan temple. Further, he directed the two main temples of Thrissur- Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu to extend all helps and support to these temples. From that day onwards pooram witness people from all religions and caste.