An unprecedented crowd witnessed the ‘Vilambaram’ of the Thrissur Pooram celebrations at Thekkinkadu Maidan on Sunday, with elephant Thechikkottukavu Ramachandran opening the Thekke Gopura Nada of Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple.
It was a record crowd on the eve of the pooram, almost equal to that of Kudamattam ceremony, as the controversy over parading of the elephant drew national attention.
The Vilambaram ritual, which declares open the pooram celebrations, involves bringing the idol of Naithilakkavu Temple, Kuttoor, to the Vadakkunnathan temple.
As the District Collector gave permission for parading Ramachandran on the temple ground only for an hour, another elephant Thechikkottukavu Devidasan, carried the idol from Naithilakkavu temple to Manikandanal on the Swaraj Round. Ramachandran, brought in a lorry to the Swaraj Round, received the idol at Manikandanal. He then carried the idol of Neithilakkavilamma to the Vadakkunnathan temple.
Wild cheers
The crowd cheered lustily when Ramachandran, fondly called Raman, opened the Thekke Gopura Nada carrying the idol.
Later, the idol was handed over once again to Devidasan and Raman was taken to Thechikkottukavu on a lorry.
Tight security was arranged for the ritual. People were not allowed near Ramachandran. Barricades were erected 10 metres away from the elephant.
Elephant lovers from across the country had been pouring in to Peramangalam Thechikkottukavu from Saturday itself to get a glimpse of the elephant. Hundreds followed the animal right from morning when it was taken for a bath.
The functions on Monday, the Pooram Day, will begin at 7.30 a.m. when ‘cherupoorams’ start entering the Thekkinkadu Maidan.
