Arattupuzha Pooram at Thrissur Kerala

The Arattupuzha Pooram is described as `the greatest Devamela on earth’ and it is the oldest pooram festival in Kerala. The `ezhunnellippu' or procession of the `thidambu' or idol of the Arattupuzha Sastha include grandly caparisoned elephants and traditional percussionists
Arattupuzha Pooram, the largest elephant stage entry in which about 70 majestically caparisoned elephants participated. Arattupuzha is about 14 km from Thrissur town. The famous Ayyappa temple at Arattupuzha is just 14 kms from Thrissur, and celebrates its annual Pooram festival during March April.
Arattupuzha is a culturally significant village located in Thrissur district of of Kerala in southern India, and is home to the annual Arattupuzha Pooram that stages the grand spectacle of scores of caparisoned elephants lined up in a row to the accompaniment of ethnic percussion concerts
History
Located on the banks of the Karuvannur River, legend has it that Arattupuzha was the meeting place of all the Gods of the world until floods ravaged the area and forced some of participants to meet 14 kilometers north of the village -- in the city of Thrissur. The Arattupuzha Pooram is still quite popular, even though it is much less famous than the Trichur Pooram. The Arattupuzha Pooram is commonly referred to as the "grand-daddy of all Poorams." It takes place in front of the famous Sree Sastha Temple, a temple which is believed to be more than 3,000 years old.
On the sixth day of the seven day festival at Arattupuzha temple, 61 gaily caparisoned elephants gather in the temple grounds, accompanied by the temple music of Panchavadyam, nadaswaram, pacharimelam and pandimelam. This Year the festival is on 06 April 2009.