Q. With reference to the temple festivals of Southern India, consider the following statements regarding Thrissur Pooram:
1.It is celebrated annually at the Thekkinkadu Maidanam surrounding the ancient Vadakkunnathan Temple in Kerala.
2.The modern format of the festival was envisioned and institutionalized by Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of Cochin, in the late 18th century.
3.The festival rituals are unique for their exclusion of percussive music, relying solely on silent meditation.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: A
Notes:
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: Thrissur Pooram is held every year in the Malayalam month of Medam (April-May) at the sprawling grounds of the historic Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur city.
- Statement 2 is correct: Often called the “Mother of all Poorams,” it was organized over 200 years ago by Raja Rama Varma (Sakthan Thampuran), the Maharaja of Cochin, to unite ten local temples in a friendly, structured competition.
- Statement 3 is incorrect: Percussion and instrumental music are central to the festival. It is famous for its vibrant musical ensembles, such as the Ilanjithara Melam and Panchavadyam, where hundreds of traditional instrumentalists play alongside a line of adorned elephants.
