ORNAMENTAL ELEPHANT IN THRISSUR POORAM
The Thrissur Pooram is an annual temple festival held in Thrissur, Kerala, India. It is held at the Vadakkunnathan (Shiva) Temple in Thrissur every year on the Pooram day—the day when the moon rises with the Pooram star in the Malayalam Calendar month of Medam. It is the largest and most famous of all poorams. The word pooram literally means group or meeting. The tradition has that every year the Gods and Goddesses residing at temples in the neighbouring regions come together for a day of celebration at the famous Vadakkumnatha Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. They decorate one hundred and fifty elephants with ornaments (gold plated caparisons, umbrellas, alavattam, venchamaram, and necklaces) for temple festivals. Thrissur Pooram, Nenmara Vallangi Vela are some of the famous festivals in kerala in which more decorated elephants are used for procession. Once a part of everyday life in Kerala, elephants are the most ornamental and auspicious animals here.