Coronavirus – Thrissur Pooran canceled for the first time
Thrissur is the biggest festival of Kerala, also known as ‘Mother of all festivals’ in Kerala. Thrissur Pooran has been canceled for the first time since its start due to the Coronavirus.
Only the main rituals will be held in respective temples. Only 5 persons will be present at the time of rituals.
Thrissur is a festival where thousands of people gather. Thus it is impossible to conduct the Pooran celebrations by maintaining social distancing.
The annual Pooran exhibition usually starts at the beginning of April. But that was also canceled due to lockdown. The Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu Devaswoms, the main leaders of Pooram, had done most of the arrangements for the event.
There was a ministerial-level meeting in Thrissur on Wednesday. The representatives of the participating temples attended the meeting. Everyone decided to cancel the Pooram due to the COIVD-19 outbreak.
Lockdown is extended till May 3. And Thrissur Pooram is on May 2.
The Pooran started back in the 18th century by Sakthan Thampuran, Maharaja of Kochi State. This is the first time that the festival will not be held since its inception.
The most awaited event of the Pooran festival is elephant parade. More than 50 huge elephants take part and it starts in the afternoon. It continues till the early morning of the next day.