Kollam Pooram, one of the grandest temple fetes in Kerala, will be held on April 16 with all the pre-pandemic grandeur. The finale of the annual 10-day festival of Asramam Sri Krishna Swamy Temple, the main rituals will start from 9 a.m. with the arrival of ‘cheru poorams’ (miniature processions) from 11 temples.

The deities of various temples will reach Asramam with their customary accompaniments in a procession to mark the beginning of the festivities. At 11 a.m., the elephants participating in the pooram will be taken for ‘ana neerattu’ (elephant bath), while ‘aana oottu’ (feeding of the elephants) ritual will be performed at 12 noon. It will be followed by the serving of pooram feast at 1 p.m.

Accompanied by tuskers, the presiding deities of Thamarakkulam Sree Maha Ganapathy Temple and Puthiyakavu Bhagavathy Temple will start their ritualistic ‘ezhunnellathu’ from 2 p.m. Althara melam featuring around 150 percussion artistes headed by Chowalloor Mohanan Warrier and Thrikkadavoor Akhil will be held at 3 p.m.

The colourful kudamattam ceremony between Thamarakkulam Sree Maha Ganapathy Temple and Puthiyakavu Bhagavathy Temple is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Around 30 elephants are expected to take part in the parade and the exchange of ornamental umbrellas.

Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal will inaugurate the pooram, and industrialist B. Ravi Pillai will preside over the function. Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development J. Chinchurani will light the ceremonial lamp, while Mayor Prasanna Earnest, K. Ananthagopan, president, Travancore Devaswom Board, N.K. Premachandran, MP, M. Mukesh, MLA, and M. Naushad, MLA, will be among those present.

The annual festival began on April 7 and the customary procession carrying the ‘thiruvabharanam’ (sacred jewellery) was held on April 14. “This year, there will be no fireworks as part of the festival, but we are panning to resume it from next year. Since the COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, the pooram will be held with all the grandeur,” said a temple official.