KARAMUKKU POORAM POOKKATTIKARA KARAMUKKU TEMPLE Panchayath/ Municipality/ Thrissur Corporation Corporation LOCATION District Thrissur Nearest Town/ Kanimangalam – 2.5 km Landmark/ Junction Nearest Bus station Thrissur K S R T C Bus Stand – 3.9 km Nearest Railway Thrissur Railway Station – 3.4 km station ACCESSIBILITY Nearest Airport Cochin International Airport – 48.6 km Pookkattikara Karamukku Temple, Cochin Devaswom Board, Pookkattikara – Karamukuk Kshetra Upadesaka Samithi, Melepookkattikkara, Chiyyaram, Thrissur, Kerala- 680026 Ph No: 2423696, 9846035967, 9446531384 CONTACT Website: www.thrissurpooramfestival.com DATES FREQUENCY DURATION TIME April - May Annually 7 days ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth) It is believed that, the Khara Maharshi who was the chief architect of many temples in Kerala was doing his tapasya here. Another story is connected with Ramayana. Khara, the Asura warrior specialized in bow & arrow, challenged Lakshmana, for misbehaving his half-sister Surpanaka. The battle lasted for few days and finally khara was defeated and hided in the large pond for days to heal. Hence the name Kharamukku. Kharamukku turned to karamukku. It is rumored that Sakthan Tampuran used to take his bath in this pond while he was living in disguise at Maliyekkal house and Thampuran had a soft corner to this temple complex. That is how, the more than 20 acres of paddy fields were owned by Karamukku temple. This temple is the holy sum of three divine powers, Saiva, Vaishnava, Saktheya. The ooralans were Mudarappilly, Kossery, Vattekkat, Eravimangalam namoodiries. The Sakthan thampuran destroyed vateekatt mana and captured this temple by the beauty & proud of this temple. International Lakhs of people RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated) On the seventh day after Tantric Poojas. Karamukku Bhagavati's Ezhunnallippu starts Pooram muhurtham at 5am. Along with Nadaswram and Nadapandi, the Ezhunnallippu reaches Kulassery temple. The panchavadyam with more than 60 members and 3 elephants the possession reaches Manikanatanal Pandal at 8 O' clock. The Pandymelam with more than 100 artists and 9 elephants fully decorated begins. This is the curtain raiser of famous Elinjitara Melam. The Pandimelam will be over by Kodiyettu 9.30 a.m. at Sreemoolastanam and the deity go inside temple to pay respects to Lord Vadakkumanathan and exit Arattu to Southern gopuram. Seeveli The Ezhunnallippu rounds the statue of Sakthan Thampuran and returns to Kulassery Temple. In the evening Kodiykkal Pooram 7p.m the same process repeated up to 10pm with 9 elephants with 100 artists playing drum. Night pooram ends by 10pm at Sreemoolastanam. Bhagavathy returns after completing pooram at 11pm. After proper rest in the day by evening after Aarrattu at Karamukku pond. Utram Vilakku Ezhunnallippu begins with 3 elephants. Pandy melam and fire works are the main attractions which is up to 10 P.M. With Tantric Pooja and Utram Pattu the curtain falls this year's pooram. Flag at temple and at Ollukkavu junction hoisted by devotees are driven down by the elephant with great jubilisation. .