Thrissur Pooram is Kerala's most famous and spectacular elephant and fireworks festival. Thrissur Pooram 2026 falls on Sunday, 26 April 2026. 'Thrissur Pooram' commonly called as the pooram of all poorams attracts millions of spectators from across the globe to the sprawling Thekkinkadu Maidan, the heart of Thrissur city. It is celebrated at every year at the famous Vadakkumnathan temple in Thrissur. It is celebrated annually during the Malayalam month of Medam (typically falling in April or May), marked by the iconic Kudamattam (umbrella exchange) and the famous Elanjithara Melam.
Thrissur Pooram 2026 - Date and Time
| Event | Date & Time |
|---|---|
| Festival Start (Kodiyettam) | 20 April 2026 (Monday), 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM |
| Sample Vedikettu (Preview) | 24 April 2026 (Friday), 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
| Pooram Nakshatra Begins | 26 April 2026 (Sunday), 8:27 PM |
| Main Pooram Day (Rituals) | 26 April 2026 (Sunday) |
| Kudamattam (Divine Durbar) | 26 April 2026 (Sunday), 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Pooram Nakshatra Ends | 27 April 2026 (Monday), 9:18 PM |
| Main Vedikettu (Fireworks) | 27 April 2026 (Monday), 3:00 AM – 6:00 AM |
| Upacharam (Farewell) | 27 April 2026 (Monday), 12:30 PM |
| Pakal Vedikettu (Day Fireworks) | 27 April 2026 (Monday), 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM |
What Is Thrissur Pooram?
Thrissur Pooram is widely recognised as the "Mother of All Poorams" and is one of the largest festivals in Asia. The festival is held annually at the historic Vadakkunnathan Shiva Temple at the heart of Thrissur city, this festival falls on the Pooram Nakshatra (lunar asterism) in the Malayalam calendar month of Medam (April–May).
Thrissur Vadakkumnathan temple is one of the most famous Lord Shiva temple in Kerala, situated in Thekkinkadu maidhanam, a center heart of the city, Thrissur. It is a 36 hours continuous event attracting thousands of pooram fans across the country, this festival is also the biggest attractive event for the international tourists. Thiruvampadi and Paramekkavu are the two major temples to make the festival a remarkable one.
History of Thrissur Pooram
The origins of Thrissur Pooram trace back to 1798, when Sakthan Thampuran (Raja Rama Varma), the Maharaja of Cochin (1790–1805), reorganised several smaller temple festivals into a single, unified grand celebration. Before this, temples from the Thrissur region attended the Arattupuzha Pooram. In 1796, heavy rains caused the Thrissur temples to arrive late and be turned away. An outraged Sakthan Thampuran responded by founding a rival festival right in the heart of Thrissur — and what began as a statement of defiance became one of India's most beloved cultural spectacles.
He divided the participating temples into two sides: the Paramekkavu side and the Thiruvambady side — a friendly rivalry that continues to define the festival's energy to this day.
Thrissur Pooram 2026 - Full Schedule
Kodiyettam – Flag Hoisting
20 April 2026 (Monday) | 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
The ceremonial hoisting of the flag at the Vadakkunnathan Temple (and the participant temples like Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady) officially marks the beginning of the seven-day festival.
Aana Chamayam Exhibition – Elephant Ornament Display
24 & 25 April 2026 (Friday & Saturday)
A two-day public exhibition where the magnificent elephant ornaments—golden Nettipattams, Aalavattoms, and ornamental umbrellas—are displayed. These are handcrafted annually by the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms.
Thrissur Pooram 2026 Sample Vedikettu Date
24 April 2026 (Friday) | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
The Sample Vedikettu is the massive preview display held two days before the main Pooram. It is the primary alternative for those unable to stay for the early morning grand finale.
Madathil Varavu – Temple Procession Entry
26 April 2026 (Sunday) | 11:30 AM
The Thiruvambady deity is carried in a magnificent procession towards the Vadakkunnathan Temple, accompanied by a traditional percussion ensemble.
Elanjithara Melam – The Iconic Percussion Performance
26 April 2026 (Sunday) | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Held inside the Vadakkunnathan Temple premises, this is the world's largest assembly of percussion artists playing the Pancha Vadyam and Pandi Melam in a rhythmic crescendo.
Thrissur Pooram 2026 Kudamattam Date & Time
26 April 2026 (Sunday) | 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
The most iconic visual of the festival. Thirty elephants stand face-to-face at the Thekkinkadu Maidan as the two Devaswoms compete in a fast-paced, rhythmic exchange of colorful silk umbrellas.
Small Fireworks (Paramekkavu)
26 April 2026 (Sunday) | 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Following the Kudamattam, a smaller fireworks display by the Paramekkavu side keeps the momentum going through the evening.
Main Vedikettu – Grand Fireworks
27 April 2026 (Monday) | 3:00 AM – 6:00 AM
The absolute climax of Thrissur Pooram. In the early hours of Monday morning, the sky explodes in a competitive display of pyrotechnics between the two main temples.
Upacharam Chollal – Farewell Ceremony
27 April 2026 (Monday) | 12:30 PM
The deities of Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu meet at the Western Gopuram of the Vadakkunnathan Temple to bid farewell, promising to meet again the following year.
Pakal Vedikettu – Daytime Fireworks
The festivities conclude with the "Day Fireworks," a thunderous finale that signals the end of the year's celebrations.
The festivities conclude with the "Day Fireworks," a thunderous finale that signals the end of the year's celebrations.
Thrissur Pooram 2026 - Schedule
| Date | Event | Time (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Apr (Mon) | Kodiyettam – Ceremonial Flag Hoisting | 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM |
| 24 Apr (Fri) | Aana Chamayam (Elephant Accoutrements Exhibition) | 10:00 AM – Midnight |
| 24 Apr (Fri) | Sample Vedikettu (Preview Fireworks) | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
| 25 Apr (Sat) | Aana Chamayam (Exhibition continues) | All Day |
| 25 Apr (Sat) | Southern Gopuram Opening (Thekke Gopura Nada) | 11:00 AM |
| 26 Apr (Sun) | Madathil Varavu (Thiruvambadi Procession) | 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM |
| 26 Apr (Sun) | Elanjithara Melam (Grand Percussion Ensemble) | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
| 26 Apr (Sun) | Kudamattam (The Divine Umbrella Exchange) | 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM |
| 27 Apr (Mon) | Main Vedikettu (Grand Fireworks Display) | 3:00 AM – 6:00 AM |
| 27 Apr (Mon) | Upacharam Chollal (The Farewell Ceremony) | 12:30 PM |
| 27 Apr (Mon) | Pakal Vedikettu (Final Day Fireworks) | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM |
Thrissur Pooram - Constituent Temples
Thiruvampadi and Paramekkavu are the two major temples take part in the Thrissur Pooram Festival. The participant poorams are divided into two parts namely "Paramekkavu side" and "Thiruvambady side".
The Paramekkavu side consists of samll poorams from the four temples besides "Paramekkavu Bagavathy". The constituent temple poorams are Pookattikkara-Karamukku Baghavathy, Choorakattukara Baghavathy, Chempukkavu Baghavathy, Panemukkumpilly Sastha.
The Thiruvambady Baghavathy side consists of four small poorams besides Thiruvambady Baghavathy are Ayyanthole Baghavathy, Nethilakkavu Baghavathy, Laoor bagavathy and Kanimangalam Sastha. So Thrissur pooram is the poorams of pooram of these ten constituent poorams.
The Thrissur Pooram starts at the time of Kanimangalam sasthavu ezhunnellippu and followed by the visit of the Devi from the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi temples to the Vadakkunnathan and other temples ezhunnellippu.
How to Reach Thrissur for Pooram 2026
By Air: The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport (COK), approximately 55 km from Thrissur. Taxis and buses run regularly.
By Train: Thrissur Railway Station is well-connected to major cities including Kochi, Kozhikode, Chennai, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. The station is under 2 km from the festival venue.
By Road: Thrissur is on the NH 544 (former NH 47) and is easily accessible from Kochi (75 km), Kozhikode (100 km), and Palakkad (65 km). KSRTC and private buses operate frequent services.
Kerala Tourism Links
Kerala Tourism Department - www.keralatourism.org
Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. - www.ktdc.com
Thenmala Ecotourism Promotion Society - www.thenmalaecotourism.com
