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New Delhi, May 6 - The capital's Jantar Mantar road was transformed into a mini Kerala Saturday as gold caparisoned elephants carrying colourful parasols stood while artistes played the Panchavadyam - an enthralling combination of percussions and wind instruments.
As a small version of Thrissur Pooram, a grand carnival known as the festival of all festivals held in Kerala's Thrissur district, was presented in front of the state house here, hundreds of spectators were mesmerised by picturesque scenes and magical music.
Elephants marched with their foreheads adorned with gold-plated appurtenances and riders on the top unfolded and raised aloft parasols, flaunt 'alavattoms' (peacock feather fans) and swing 'Venchamaroms' (yak tail tufts), the viewers could not hide their excitement.
The 'Panchavadyam', an orchestra of five instruments - Chenda, edakka (drums), Kurumkuzhal (wind pipe), Elathalam (cymbals) and Kombu (trumpet), left them spellbound.
Around 50 artistes, including renowned Panchavadyam artists like Cherpillassery Krishnakumar Poduval, Kangankad Muralidhara Marar and Cherutazham Krishna Marar, who were specially invited to the national capital, performed the musical fiesta.
'This is the first time I am seeing such a beautiful scene. The Thrissur Pooram has so far been in my imagination and now I could see it in real,' said Ajayan, a spectator.
'It was simply beautiful, I have never seen anything like this,' said Anupama Balakrishnan, a Delhi-born Keralite.
This was exactly what the organisers had in mind when they decided to hold the first 'Delhi Pooram' in the national capital.
'Most of the Keralites here have not seen the Thrissur Pooram. The new generation also do not know what it looks and sounds like,' said Jimmy George, chairman of the Delhi Pooram Celebration Committee.
George said as 'Thrissur Pooram' was not a religious festival, Delhi Pooram also was purely a cultural fiesta. 'It does not have any religion. It is just a cultural festival in a secular format conducted for national integration.'
'We also want to promote Kerala tourism,' he added.
The Pooram procession with the decorated elephants and Thalappoli (rows of girls holding earthen lamps) from the Kerala House to the Travancore House on the Kasturba Gandhi Marg in central Delhi.
Back home, the Thirussur Pooram, internationally known for its breathtaking pyrotechnic displays, would not have the grand finale after a tragedy in which seven workers were charred to death in a firework mishap forced the state government to disallow fireworks this year.
However, unlike the original Pooram where around 30 colourfully decorated tuskers take part in the procession and the Kudamattam - raising of artistic parasols by people sitting on elephant back, the security concerns forced the organisers to confine the number of elephants to just three.
The Pooram festival, which is celebrated in April-May, was introduced by Saktan Tampuran, king of erstwhile Kochi state in 18th century in symbolic commemoration of a mythological assembly at the Vadakkumnathan Shiva temple of gods and goddesses of Thiruvambadi temple, Paramekkavu temple and eight other minor temples.
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