The sprawling Thekkinkadu Maidan in Thrissur city, which would otherwise be bustling with activities in the months of April and May, wears a deserted look this time, thanks to COVID-19 pandemic.
For the first time in 58 years, Thrissur Pooram, arguably the biggest temple festival in Kerala, has been cancelled in the wake of the nationwide lockdown.
This year's pooram was scheduled to be held on May 3. With the lockdown in place, both Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi devaswom boards jointly decided to cancel the festival and to conduct only the necessary rituals.
The pooram exhibition, which usually begins on April 1 and ends in the last week of May, has already been cancelled.
The 200-year-old festival, believed to have been started by erstwhile Cochin ruler Shakthan Thampuran, was conducted as a ritual-only event last in 1962 due to the Indo-China war.
The pooram, which marks Kerala's cultural diversity, sees both the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi teams competing each other through elephant procession, fireworks, and stunning cultural representation.
The spectacular event, attended by thousands of people, would take place in front of the Vadakkunnathan temple in the city.
Thrissur is among the eight districts in Kerala designated as a COVID-19 hotspots. Even though the lockdown is scheduled to end on April 14, restrictions in these districts are likely to continue.
