The Uthralikkavu Pooram is a famous temple festival celebrated in Kerala, India. It takes place at Shri RudhiramahakalikavTemple, located in the village of Wadakkanchery in Thrissur district, Kerala. The Uthralikkavu festival is conducted during early summer every year. The festival flag-hoisting takes place on the second Tuesday of Kumbha ,the month of the Malayalam era. In olden days, it was Uthralikavu Vela. Now it is called pooram.
Seven days in advance of the Pooram day, the flag hoisting ceremony (kodiyettam) takes place. Bhagavathi comes out of the kavu (temple) and goes around the nearby villages to bless her devotees at their residence and to accept their offerings, in the form of Nirapara. The materials offered should have minimum one Para of paddy, supported by flowers, raw rice, fried paddy, jaggery, turmeric, fruits etc. The Komaram/Velichapad who visits the homes (Velichapadu being the representative of Bhagavathi) gives oracles, in a faith-evoking atmosphere created by Chenda (trumpet), Ilathalam (cymbals) and Kombu (musical horn). The first Para in this weeklong tour of Bhagavathi is expected to be given by a member of the family of Kelathachan at his Mullakkal Tharavadu.
Both the temple (Uthralikavu as it is called by the public) and the Sreemoolasthanam (Akamala Mullakkal Alinchuvadu) are situated in Enkakad Village. Therefore, the villagers of Enkakad have the privilege of beginning the pooram, on the pooram day. This will be followed by Kumaranellur while the pooram procession from Wadakancheri will reach the temple premises when the pooram by Kumaranellur is half way through. Later all the three parties will join together and line up the decorated elephants at the main pooram venue in front of the temple after the fireworks are over. This is called Kootti Ezhunnallethu in Malayalam (means joint procession) which will be a wonderful scene to enjoy with all the elephants with glittering and colorful decorations along with Pandi Melam (orchestrated drum beating).
Uthralikavu Pooram / Vela is also a festival of Villagers, after the harvesting season presenting various rural art forms like pootham, thira, nayadi, kummatti, kalakali etc. Uthralikavu pooram is conducted with the active participation of the three villagers in Wadakanchery Panchayat, viz. Enkakad, Kumaranellur, Wadakanchery, who mobilize resources from all over, and make the Pooram grander year after year. They vie with each other in presenting leading elephants, percussionists and pyro techniques.
The Uthralikkavu Pooram is a unique cultural and religious event that provides a glimpse into the rich heritage and traditions of Kerala. It’s a vibrant and colorful celebration that brings people together to celebrate their faith and culture.