Flags hoisted for Thrissur Pooram

Flags were today hoisted for the famous Thrissur Pooram festival which falls on May 9.
The flag was hoisted at the Thiruvambady temple at 1130 hours and later it was hoisted at the Paramekkavu shrine, both being main promoters of the festival.
Flags were also hoisted at the nearby eight small temples as they are also active participants in the festival.
The pooram festival had its roots in a royal declaration of 1798 by Raja Rama Varma popularly known as Shakthan Tampuran of the erstwhile princely state of Cochin.
The main features of the pooram would be parade of richly caprisoned tuskers, change of colourful parasols on top of the tuskers and a phantasmagoria of fireworks display in the wee hours of May 10 for about four to five hours.