Pooram

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A pooram (the name coming from the Malayalam language used by the people of Kerala state of India) is a temple festival and has its origin from Poora Kali prevalent in Malabar area of Kerala state and there will be at least one elephant in the procession. There some poorams and temple festivals without elephants ( for example Aryankavu pooram, shoranur Kerala).The most famous Pooram is Thrissur Pooram. Pooram has become very famous in Europe and North America due to tourism.The other famous pooram include Arattupuzha - peruvanam pooram, Nenmara vallangi vela, Wadakkancherry pooram and Edakkunni Uthram Vilakku.

[edit] Different classification of Poorams

A melam is a classic performance of different musical instruments that are unique to Kerala. The most traditional of all melam's is something called a Pandi Melam which is generally performed outside the temples. Another melam called Panchari melam, which is similar to Pandi melam is played inside the temple. The scentifically orchestrated panchari melam is performed at Edakkunnni UthramVilakku, Ollur Trichur District of Kerala. See this British Library archive for more details on this.

Panchavadyam is another classical musical ensemble performed in Kerala , where five instruments are involved in a breathtaking-fastmoving act of percussion (Pancha in Sanskrit means five). The five instruments are Madhalam, Kombu, Edakka, Elathalam & Timila.

Thayambaka is a solo Chenda (Drum) performance, where the performer uses one stick and the other hand to play the instrument (Chenda) instead of the usual two sticks.