Pooram flags hoisted

THRISSUR: The ceremonial flag-hoisting ceremony of Thrissur Pooram, Kodiyettam, was held here in the 10 participating temples including Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu at separate functions on Wednesday.The ceremony started off a week-long celebration, which will culminate on May 1, the Pooram day. There will be regular special festival programmes in all the participating temples for the remaining days till then.While Thazhathupurakkal Surendran Asari and Sushithu conducted the Bhoomi Puja, one of the important rituals preceding the Kodiyettam in the Thiruvambady Temple, Chembil Neelakandan Asari and his son Kuttan performed the Bhoomi Puja in the Paramekkavu Temple. Later, Kodiyettam was performed by the carpenters and the people of the localities where the temples are located (Thattakam). While the Thiruvambady Devaswom held the Kodiyettam between 11.30 am and noon, the Paramekkavu Devaswom conducted it at noon. Thantris, Puliyannur Sankaranarayanan Namboodiripad, Kuttan Namboodiripad and Melsanthi Sukumaran Namboothiripad performed the ceremony and held special pujas in the Thiruvambady Temple. The ceremony at the Paramekkavu Temple was supervised by Puliyannur Anujan Namboodiripad and Krishnan Namboodiripad. Later, the Ezhunnellippu of the idols of the Goddess and fireworks followed. The elephants, Thiruvambadi Sivasundar and Paramekkavu Devidasan, carried the idols.The main participants in this 36-hour-long festival are the deities of Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady Temples and the major part of the Pooram programmes is being arranged by them. The eight other minor participating temples are Ayyanthole, Karamukku, Laloor, Nethilakkavu, Choorakkattukara, Chembukkavu, Kanimangalam and Panakkampilly. The Kodiyettam ceremonies were also held at these temples on Wednesday. The friendly competition in ceremonies such as Kootti Ezhunnellippu and Kudamattom between Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady Devaswoms is the highlight of the Pooram.