Thrissur: The Cultural Capital of Kerala
My hometown is Thrissur known as the cultural capital of Kerala.Now talking about Kerala,Kerala is one among the 28 states in the Republic of India and is known as GOD'S OWN COUNTRY because this place is bestowed with nature's two favorite darlings - Lush green grounds and crystal clear water. Thrissur is a place which withholds the Kerala culture- its festivals, arts and art forms. This ancient town is very famous for one big event which brings all the people of the town together ,where everyone enjoys and rejoices together.It is known as the Thrissur Pooram! Thrissur Pooram is one of the most popular temple festivals of the South Indian state Kerala. It is held at Vadakkunnathan Temple every year where the goddesses of two nearby temples Thiruvambady and Paramekavu meet each other after a gap of one year on 'Pooram' day of the Malayalam Calendar month of 'Medam'. Thrissur Pooram was the brain child of Raja Rama Varma or 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 knows as Arattupuzha Pooram. Temples in and around City of Thrissur were regular participants. One day because of incessant rains they were late for the Arattupuzha Pooram and were denied access to the Pooram procession. Felt embarrassed by the denial, the temples went to the Sakthan Thampuran and told their story.So in 1798, he unified the 10 temples situated around Vadakkunnathan Temple and organised the celebration of Thrissur Pooram as a mass festival. He invited temples with their deities to City of Thrissur to pay obeisance to Lord Vakunnathan, the presiding deity of the Vadakkunnathan Temple. Sakthan Thampuran ordained these temples into two groups, Western group and Eastern group. The Western group as Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple consisting of Kanimangalam, Laloor, Ayyanthole and Nethilakkavu as the main one.The