Photo: Joshy Manjumel

Pakal Pooram is a small-scale version of the grand Thrisssur Pooram.  The Pakal Pooram (Day Pooram) pictured above took place last December in Thekkady as a tourist attraction.

Elephants have been the part of the cultural ethos of Kerala for centuries. The people of Kerala consider this animal a harbinger of good fortune, a remover of obstacles and as a representative of the god Ganesh, an inseparable and integral part of religious and economic life.

Elephants are also a symbol of strength, majesty and prestige; in early times royalty and feudal lords used elephants to display their power. When the Temples and Mosques embraced the animal as an auspicious feature of religious festivities, they become an intrinsic part of everyday life. People came to the festivitals not only for the rituals but also for a glimpse of these beautifully caparisoned animals accompanied by Panchavadyam (Traditional Drums).