Malayalam festival
Thrissur Pooram — തൃശ്ശൂർ പൂരം
tr̥śśūr pūraṁ
April–May · the Pooram star in the month of Medam
Thrissur Pooram, begun by the ruler Sakthan Thampuran in the late 18th century, is Kerala's most spectacular temple festival. The rival Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu temples parade caparisoned elephants before the Vadakkunnathan Temple, compete in kudamattam — rapid swaps of bright silk parasols — and drive the crowd with the Ilanjithara melam percussion ensemble, before a pre-dawn fireworks display.
Greetings in Malayalam
പൂരാശംസകൾ
pūrāśaṁsakaḷ
"Pooram wishes!"
universal
Customs & traditions
- ✦Procession of caparisoned elephants with nettipattam (golden headdresses)
- ✦Kudamattam — the parasol-exchange contest
- ✦Ilanjithara melam and panchavadyam percussion
- ✦Vedikkettu — the fireworks display
Traditional foods
ഉണ്ണിയപ്പം
uṇṇiyappaṁ
Sweet rice-banana-jaggery fritters sold at festival stalls
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Onam in Malayalam
August–September · month of Chingam, culminating on the Thiruvonam star
Vishu in Malayalam
April 14 or 15 · first day of the month of Medam
Thiruvathira in Malayalam
December–January · the Thiruvathira star in the month of Dhanu
Vidyarambham in Malayalam
September–October · Vijayadashami, the end of Navaratri
Attukal Pongala in Malayalam
February–March · the Pooram star in the month of Kumbham
Makaravilakku in Malayalam
January 14–15 · Makara Sankranti, climax of the Sabarimala season