For the first time in history, Hindus and cultural Kerala have been insulted by the disorderly Thrissur Pooram due to unnecessary restrictions and the use of excessive force by the police on the devotees.
Several temples send their processions to pay obeisance to Bhagwan Shiva, the presiding deity of the Vadakkumnathan Temple. The golden elephant caparison (Nettipattam), elephant accoutrements (Chamayam), ornamental fan made of peacock feathers (Aalavattom), royal fan (Venchamarom), sacred bells and decorative umbrellas are prepared new by Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devawsoms separately each year.
One of the major events in Thrissur Pooram is “Madathil Varavu,” a panchavadhyam concert featuring several artists playing temple musical instruments such as Thimila, Madhalam, Trumpet, Cymbal, and Edakka.
Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady groups enter the temple through the western gate, exit the southern gate and array themselves face-to-face. In the presence of Melam, the two groups exchange colourful and crafted umbrellas competitively at the top of the elephants, called Kuda Mattom, which is the eye-catching attraction of the program.
Although a prominently Hindu tradition, the pandal works are crafted by the Muslim community. Profits from materials for the umbrellas for Kuda Mattom reach the Christian churches and their members.
Police barricading the entry of Thiruvambady temple, an integral part of Pooram celebrations, can only be considered as an attack on the freedom of worship and faith of the Hindu community. The police lathicharge against those who protested the violation of our customs has caused a lot of anger.
Devotees are significantly hurt by the infringement on rituals and the hateful measures taken by the police and the government. Pooram fans were deeply disappointed when the lights of Pooram village were switched off, and the early morning fireworks were stopped. (Native Hindu NRI even plan their yearly vacations accordingly)
Thrissur Pooram is Kerala’s biggest festival and cultural fair, and the world watches it. It was only because people like Suresh Gopi, BJP leader and NDA candidate from Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, intervened in time and negotiated with the authorities that the Pooram was restarted, and the fireworks occurred after 7 a.m.
The police’s arrogance and unnecessary actions, which darkened this festival, have raised simmering protests. This resentment is not going to end anytime soon. Had it been any other city, the lakhs of Hindu devotees would have made the handful of police officers retreat.
The police avoided controlling the Day Pooram on Saturday, fearing further protests. One did not have to be an intelligence officer to know there would be public anger. Pooram was held smoothly after the police removed the barricades and left the city centre alone.
Thrissur Pooram has been immortalised in the mind of cultural Kerala. It is necessary to investigate why the police took such unilateral actions against the Hindu festival. It has been a long time since dark forces started working against Hindu Bhagwans, traditions and our places of worship.
Some oppose Ezhunallath (processions) mobilising Gajaveerans (native tuskers). Their common complaint is that the elephants are being tortured. Others insist that there should be no fireworks. Both of these groups have been campaigning against Thrissur Pooram for years.
Following this, anti-Hindu forces have taken some other measures to reduce Pooram’s attractiveness and public participation. A conspiracy was suspected behind the steep increase in shop rents, intended to disrupt the busy business. Later, the authorities made some concessions after a heavy protest.
Pooram attracts participants from diverse sectors, and proceeds from the sale of stalls (most are free of cost) are a significant revenue stream for the event. The Pooram exhibition is conducted at the Thekkinkadu Maidan (ground), encircling the Vadakkunnathan temple. The Cochin Devaswom Board (CDB), which is the custodian of this maidan, levies the rent for the exhibition ground from Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu devaswoms.
This year, the CDB hiked the rent for the Pooram exhibition ground to absurd levels. Last year, the exhibition committee remitted Rs 42 lakh as ground rent, while the CDB demanded Rs 2.20 crore. The organisers said they would get a maximum of Rs 6 crore from the 40-day-long exhibition. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan ‘intervened’ and decided to continue with the same rent as last season.
A Poorakuda (decorative umbrella) costs approximately Rs 30,000 to make. Each Desham (region) prepares more than 800 umbrellas. A unique umbrella may cost you one to two lakhs of rupees. It takes five sets of fifteen unique umbrellas.
Approximately Rs 30,000 can be spent on an Alavattam, a magnificent circular shield covered in peacock feathers. It takes fifteen of these sets. Venchamaram, or white flowing tufts, will set you back as much as Rs one lakh.
An elephant forehead decoration, or Nettipattam, costs Rs 2 lakhs. It takes fifteen of these sets. About 100 elephants are required for a Pooram. The minimal cost of an elephant is Rs 40,000. Each group needs thirty lakh rupees for the Vedikettu (fireworks).
Pooram takes place in the presence of Vadakkunnathan. Thekkinkadu is the sanctuary of Bhagwan Shiva. But consciously forgetting this, efforts have been going on for some time to portray Pooram as a non-religious celebration and a secular gathering.
Some work with a hidden agenda to hide the fact that Pooram is a temple festival and make it a mere crowd celebration. Others (including Hindus) agree with this propaganda and happily participate in it. The role of organisations like ‘PETA’, which creates controversies every year to announce the arrival of Pooram, has to be viewed with suspicion.
The colourful Kuda Mattam (exchange of decorated umbrellas) is the most attractive and magnificent ceremony of Thrissur Pooram. People from many parts of the world came to see this ceremony conducted with great enthusiasm and joy under Paramekkavu—Thiruvambady Devaswoms.
The umbrellas, with the image of Ram Lalla of Ayodhya on them, made the umbrella exchange the central attraction this time. These images immediately irritated and triggered several sleeper cells.
Green communists and Congress workers, who are trying to win votes by appeasing the jihadi forces, naturally have a notorious animosity towards Ayodhya, Ram Temple and Ram Lalla. They joined hands with the extremist Islamists and unleashed vile propaganda. Allegedly, their motivation was behind using the police to make a mess of Pooram.
Devaswom Minister K. Radhakrishnan and Revenue Minister K. Rajan (both Thrissur natives) refused to initially interfere and pointed to a covert collaboration. Communist Party of India (CPI) leader and Left Front candidate from Thrissur constituency V.S. Sunilkumar responded without any sincerity. Sunilkumar and UDF candidate K. Muralidharan also protested hesitantly.
They got involved after Suresh Gopi arrived and pacified Thiruvambady Devaswom officials to continue with the festivities. If not, they would undoubtedly have opposed the Ram Lalla images. Former MP Congress politician T. N. Prathapan was nowhere to be seen. He, anyway, behaves like the brainchild of Jihadists.
The CPM’s attempt to draw public attention by riding on Hindus may be behind the police’s defacement of Pooram due to the massive election scandal involving the party leaders in the Karuvannur Cooperative Bank scam. It should not be surprising that the Home Department, which is ruled by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who has allegedly become the jihadi commander, behaves like this.
