Arattupuzha Pooram Festival



Detailed Information about Arattupuzha Pooram Festival & Its Importance


All over India, across all of the different communities and social groups that exist, festivals are celebrated with much pomp and ceremony. It is no doubt that people in India celebrate things with a whole lot of fervour. The south of India has a world of festivals that are just as important to its people. One of the most important events that unfold in Kerala is the Arattupuzha Pooram. It is celebrated in a tiny hamlet named Arattupuzha, which is situated in the district of Thrissur in Kerala. This is an annual event which the Keralites cherish. It is, in simple terms one of the biggest folk and ethnic concerts that is held in the region. People from all parts of the state participate in the dance and music performances that are lined up for the audiences to witness. It attracts many tourists from all over the country. It is a time of the year when people find joy and peace in putting up a good show.

One of the most noteworthy features of this event is the elephants. They form part of the show when the percussionists perform for the audience showcasing their talent in regional folk music. As for the history of this event, legend has it that Arattupuzha was the place where all the gods of the world met. This was until the day when a notorious storm changed that. Now, this meant that all of the gods would then have to meet a few miles further from the village. This flood was caused because of imbalance at the Karuvannur River. This festival is celebrated at the famous and ancient temple of Sree Sastha Temple and it goes on for seven days. This temple is known to have existed for about 3000 years. This festival still ranks high in the popularity list among all of the Poorams in south India even though it might not be as famous as Trichur Pooram.

One of the primary themes of this festival is the celebration of the life and the reverence of the gods that had once ruled this place. What is interesting about this festival, as the case is with most Hindu religious beliefs and traditions is that the gods are humanized. The flood, in this case plays a significant role. Even though it was the meeting place of "gods", they still had to find another place to meet. They could not avert the powers of nature and of a higher power. And that is one of the central motifs for the celebration of this festival: that there is a higher power who is watching over all that is going on, on planet earth. And the other theme is the fact that the animals are integrated into the festival. The Arattupuzha festival is colourful in that it brings in the people of the community together. It is a time of the year when the people of Kerala forget all of the differences between them and put together a show of solidarity and sanctity.