Edakkunni Uthram Vilakku
Uthramvilakku is a temple festival celebrated at Edakkunni in Ollur, south of Thrissur in central Kerala, south India. The highlight of the event is an over four-hour Panchari melam in the temple compound past midnight on the uthram day, with each of the five caparisoned elephants on the occasion carrying a deity each from as many temples. Origin The uthramvilakku has its origin in uthrampattu, a form of ritual singing (Brahmani pattu) that was later converted into Uthramvilakku in its present form about 150 years ago. This is celebrated on the uthram day of the Meenam month of the Malayalam calendar. After the kodiyettam (flag-hoisting) a small pooram ceremony is performed on three elephants. Over the succeeding six days the deity of Lord Bhagavathy is taken around the historic Perumanam village astride an elephant, receiving the obeisances of devotees and taking part in pooram ceremonies in different temples along the route. The ceremonial elephant also participates in the traditional Anayottam (elephant race) at Piddikaparambu; which is near Cherpu about 14 km south-west of the town of Thrissur. This is a unique elephant race as idols of different deities from different temples too take part in it. The day's functions The