Uthralikkavu Pooram is a festival held at Shri Rudhiramahakalikav Temple situated at Wadackanchery in Thalappilly taluk of Thrissur district in Kerala. Uthralikkavu Pooram is famed for its Pooram festival held during February to March every year.
Location of Uthralikkavu Temple
Uthralikkavu temple is some two kilometres north of Wadackanchery on the Kodungallore-Shoranur state highway. Just aside the Thrissur - Shoranur Railway line, amidst the paddy fields and surrounded by a chain of highlands and hills, the temple compound forms a rather arena-like stage where the Pooram and its associated features such as elephant procession, fireworks, percussion orchestra etc. would be held. Despite the fact that the temple is rather small in size compared to its counterparts in Kerala and that it is located at an isolated rural part of the district, during the festival season, the temple and the village raises to media attraction and news fame.
Conduction of Uthralikkavu Festival
Uthralikkavu festival is conducted during early summer every year. The festival flag-hoisting takes place on the second Tuesday of Kumbha, the month of the Malayalam Kollam era. (This is the same day that another important local festival, Machadu Mamankam takes place. Towards the end of following seven days, on next Tuesday, as part of the valedictory functions, the actual Pooram is conducted.
Pooram in Uthralikkavu Temple
Pooram is a Kerala Hindu ritual festival in which generally caparisoned elephants are led in a controlled and organized procession. At Uthralikkavu Pooram, three teams, each from neighboring village temples Enkakkad, Kumaranellur and Wadakanchery participate. Each team normally presents seven to eleven elephants, all decorated with traditional trunk masks, shields and fans. The elephant positioned at the middle will also have a large plaque on its top which represents the deity. There are many festivals in kerala used to celebrate like this.
Kuthira Vela in Uthralikkavu Temple
Apart from the elephant procession, at Uthralikkavu, there also held are Kuthira Vela and a variety of such other events dedicated by various communities.
Fireworks in Uthralikkavu Temple
The firework in Uthralikkavu Temple is the second biggest fireworks. The most spectacular show during the Pooram is the magnificent and thunderous fireworks that take place during the early morning hours of succeeding day. The peculiar landscape adds extra reverberation and reinforcement to the already well-engineered explosive sounds produced.
