Thrissur Pooram: Tusker Thechikkottukavu Ramachandran to appear, but in new role

To the delight of millions of Pooram lovers, legendary tusker Thechikottukavu Ramachandran will participate in this year’s Thrissur pooram. Dewaswom secretary K Mahesh said that Ramachandran would be carrying the deity of Chembookavu Karthyayani Bhagavathy. Arrangements have been made for the elephant to participate in the pooram. Meanwhile, this would be the first time Ramachandran would carry the deity for Chembookavu. Last year, Ramachandran arrived at the Pooram carrying the idol of Neythalakavilamma.

It was only during the last round of meetings that Ramachandran was finalised for Chembookavu. The ezhunnalippu (procession) will begin on the main Pooram day, before 7 am, following the Sree Bhoothabali ritual at the Chembookavu temple. Traditionally, the ezhunallippu, aka procession, would be completed, and the festival party would return to the temple before midday. The grand procession, accompanied by panchavadyam (percussion), starts from the temple and reaches Paramekkavu via Balabhavan.

The idol of Vadakkunathan will enter the temple through the Kizhakke Gopuranada (eastern gateway), while the Panchavadyam orchestra will perform at the southern gateway. The deity will then return accompanied by the thrilling beats of Pandimelam. After the melam, the deity will circumambulate Vadakkunnathan and come out through the eastern gateway. The procession party will return from the pooram premises by 10.30 am.