Context: The Supreme Court has temporarily stayed Kerala High Court's restrictions on using elephants in temple festivals (like Thrissur Pooram).
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Thrissur Pooram.
Major Highlights:
- It is a centuries-old tradition that a large number of decorated elephants are paraded at the famous Thrissur Pooram festival.
- In November 2024, the Kerala High Court had imposed strict guidelines that included a maximum of ten elephants and maintaining a minimum distance of three metres between them in the pooram (festival) procession.
- The Supreme Court has kept the tradition in mind to temporarily halt the restrictions imposed by the Kerala High Court and allowed the use of elephants in temple festivals.
About Thrissur Pooram:
- Thrissur Pooram is an annual Hindu temple festival held in Thrissur, Kerala.
- It is held at the Vadakkunnathan Temple dedicated to Lord Vadakkunnatha (Shiva) in the Malayalam month of Medam (April-May).
- The festival was the brain child of Shakthan Thampuran (ruler of Cochin from 1790 to 1805), who organised the festival with the participation of 10 temples.
- Unique Features:
- Grand display of caparisoned elephants, dazzling parasols, and percussion music.
- An elaborate procession of 50 decorated elephants with the traditional music of Chenda Melam and Pancha Vadyam marks the main attraction of the festival.
- The finale is marked by a grand fireworks show.