The grand countdown to Kerala’s most iconic temple festival begins today with the traditional Pooram Vilambaram (announcement of Thrissur Pooram) ceremony. This year too, the majestic elephant Ernakulam Shivakumar will have the honor of opening the Thekke Gopura Nada (southern temple gate), symbolizing the formal commencement of the festival. The event will take place at 10 AM, with Shivakumar bearing the idol of Neythalakavu Bhagavathi.
For decades, this role was fulfilled by the legendary elephant Thechikkottukavu Ramachandran, who was a central figure in Thrissur Pooram’s cultural legacy. However, due to changing regulations and age-related concerns, Ramachandran stepped down, and since the past seven years, Ernakulam Shivakumar has taken over this significant ritual. Owned by the Cochin Devaswom Board, Shivakumar is now participating in the Pooram Vilambaram for the fifth consecutive time.
In a notable change this year, Ramachandran will carry the idol of Chembukkavu Karthyayani Devi, one of the major participating temples in Thrissur Pooram. The shift in roles adds a new dynamic to this year’s festivities while honoring both the heritage and evolving traditions of the event.
As the festival’s core rituals unfold, devotees and culture enthusiasts across Kerala eagerly await Thrissur Pooram Day, which will be celebrated tomorrow, promising a spectacle of color, sound, and devotion that defines the cultural heartbeat of the state.
