Biggest floral carpet at Kozhikode -Snehapookkalam to get into the Guninnes Book of Records

Kozhikode :Marking a model for religious harmony and universal brotherhood, the biggest floral carpet `Snehapookkalam' was laid with 15 tones of flowers. Fragrance filled the air at Swapna Nagari on Saturday as an army of 1,000 people, including 500 students, created the world's biggest 'Pookalam' (floral carpet), to get into the Guinness book of records. The design was selected from 15 entries and the one by C K Suresh, who won the design championship, was used.

Spread over a massive 17, 622 square feet, the carpet was made with creativity supported by 25 artists. The carpet had set a world record. The previous record was set in 2008 at Rajiv Gandhi Indoor stadium at Ernakulum, where Kerala Police prepared a 'Jana Maithri pookkalam' over 12000 square feet.

The carpet was made with seven kinds of flowers representing 7 continents taking 2 hours and eight minutes.

For making on the spot assessment of the function, officials from the Guinness book of world records and Limca book of world records were present. As many as 14,500 kg flowers were used including Chrysanthemum, Chethi, vadamalli, and Dalia brought from Thovala. The attempt was led by 72 group leaders,

Akshaya Trithiya 2010

Akshaya Trithiya, or Akha Teej, is a highly auspicious day which falls on the third day after Amavasi (no moon) in the Hindu month of Vaishakha. In 2010, the date of Akshaya Trithiya is May 16. As per Hindu astrology and almanac, each second on the Akshaya Trithiya day is auspicious. It is said that there is no need to look for a ‘muhurat’ on the day. The word Akshaya means ‘that which never diminishes’ and the day is ideal for beginning new ventures as it is believed that all investments on this day appreciates.

In a traditional Hindu lunar calendar, Akshay Tritiya is observed on the third day of Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) in Vaishakh Month.

It is believed that the sun and the moon are most radiant and best placed on the day. Therefore it is one of the most popular dates in Hindu calendar for marriages, for beginning new ventures, for investing and for purchasing valuables like gold and diamond.

Parashuram Jayanti is also observed on Akshaya Tritiya day. There are numerous legends associated with Akshaya Tritiya; most popular is that of Sudama or Kuchela visiting Lord Krishna in Dwarka with a handful of beaten rice (poha or aval).

Another legend suggests that the Pandavas received the Akshaya Pathram (bowl) from Lord Krishna (in the Mahabharata) on this day.

It is also believed that Sage Vyasa began the composition of Mahabharata on the day.Lord Vishnu and his incarnations are worshipped on the day. People also conduct Lakshmi puja on Akshaya Tritiya.

But nowadays, Akshaya Trithiya is associated with gold purchase and many people wait for the day to make investments in gold

Thrissur pooram Fireworks

The Thrissur Pooram is the most colourful and famous temple festival of Kerala. The pooram fireworks performed by the two major participants namely, Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi is a fantastic event. The fireworks held at Thekkinkad ground near the Vadakkumnathan Temple start in the early hours of the night and last for several hours.

Thrissur pooram is now going on at Thrissur.The fireworks will start at 3AM in the morning.It is a must watch festival and fire work.

The impressive processions of those Thriuvambadi Bhagavathy from the Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple and the Paramekkavu Bhagavathi from Paramekkavu temple are the major and the main part of the Pooram.highlights of the pooram are Kudamatam and the firework show known as 'Pooram vedikettu'. The celebrations which last for over 36 hours includes parasol displays and firework shows.

Fireworks are an essential part of almost all events in Kerala .But in Thrissur Pooram; the fire works are distinct in character, performance, excellence and magnitude. Both Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu temples compete with each other to provide the crowd with the best and the most unexpected.

People come from faraway places to watch this amazing display of pyrotechnics. There are four major firework displays in Thrissur Pooram. The ‘sample fireworks’ on the day before the Pooram, the colorful sparklers that light up the sky (amittu) by both sides on the Pooram evening after the Southward Descent, the most impressive event that mark the peak of Pooram celebrations in the early morning hours, and the final fireworks the following noon after the Goddesses bid farewell to each other that mark the end of Pooram.

The chemistry : The technique is a mixture of sound, light and strength, the proportion may vary according to the type –say amittu( less sound more colour full), dynamite (High pitch sound only) Earlier potassium chlorate was used to increase the loudness and was replaced by potassium nitrate since earlier is more accident prone. The colour full display of amittu was started in Thrissur pooram . Thanks to Dr.T.C. Krishnamenon for his able guidance.

Some of the combinations

Stonshiam Carbonate – Dark Red

Lithium Carbonate – Light Red

Calcium Chloride - Orange

Sodium Nitrate - Yellow

Barium Chloride – Green

Copper Chloride –Blue

Titanium and Aluminum – White

This is only a guide line and proportion is the skill of the technocrat and Aluminum powder, magnesium etc are added to give some gimmicks.

According to sources, an active member of Thrissur Pooram committee witnessed a Chinese firework display during his visit to the Park Fare Exhibition at Madras about 80 years ago. Inspired by the spectacle, he brought some items of Chinese fireworks to Thrissur like poothiri, lathiri, moolipeevu, vaanam etc. It obviously fired popular imagination and in no time, the art and craft of fireworks was taken up by enterprising indigenous families, who developed it into the pulsating event that it is now. Every year new and never-seen-before items are added to the fireworks, with both the temples devoting a large share of resources for it.

The earliest masters of fireworks display, like Kuriya, Ponnuveetil Gopalan Nair, Vellattu Narayana Panicker, Chelapadan Anthony, Vadakkethala Kochapu etc were not formally or technically trained in the art. They learned it through experience and experimentation and virtually developed it into a major industry. All the fireworks-managers of today are the followers of these pioneers. For a long time the responsibility of the Paramekkavu fireworks was vested with Karayarakattil Jose, who has now retired from the scene.

It was only in the early 1970’s that a fixed schedule for fireworks display was introduced. Until then whichever party - Paramekkavu or Thiruvambady - that reaches the pandal first would begin their fireworks display. As this led to a lot of misunderstandings and also untoward incidents, a rotation system was introduced. According to this, each temple would take turns to light their fireworks first. From then on, both the parties have followed this system.

The fame of the Thrissur fireworks crossed boundaries and reached USA and a master was invited to display fireworks in connection with a presidential Sworn - in USA

Thrissur Pooram 2010 Overview

Thrissur Pooram - Overview

Thrissur Pooram is called 'the pooram of all poorams'. It the biggest or the best of all poorams. The Thrissur pooram, is celebrated every year, on the pooram day, in the month of Medam (mid-April to mid-may) month as per the malayalam calendar. While all poorams have a huge influence on surrounding neighborhoods and towns, few other festivals require their active involvement. Thrissur town plays host, for 36 hours from the wee hours of the pooram day, to one of the most largest collection of people and elephants. The richly decorated elephant, as seen during the Thrissur pooram, is now globally recognized, and its association with Kerala. On the pooram day, fifty (50) or more elephants pass through the very center of Thrissur town, the Vadakkunnathan temple. The main features of the pooram festival are these decorated elephants with their nettipattam (decorative headdress), beautiful craftedthe kolam, decorative bells and ornaments etc. Add to this the panchavadyam, the rhythmic beating of the drum, and what would be a cacophony otherwise is turned into an organized but spontaneous symphony. The fireworks display in the early hours of the next day, rival shows held anywhere in the world, without even using many of the modern and newer pyrotechnics.

Thrissur Pooram 2010 date is April 24. The Trichur Puram festival, referred as the Mother of all Poorams, is annually observed in the Malayalam month of Medam (April – May).

Thrissur Pooram is celebrated at of the Vadakkunnathan Temple, situated on a hillock (Thekkinkadu maidan) in the centre of the city, on the Pooram day in the month of Medom (April-May). Processions of richly caparisoned elephants accompanied by percussion ensembles from various neighbouring temples culminate at the Vadakumnathan temple. The most impressive processions are those Thriuvambadi Bhagavathy from the Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple and the Paramekkavu Bhagavathi from Paramekkavu temple. The celebrations which last for over 36 hours includes parasol displays and firework shows.

Vadakkunnathan is a mere spectator at this festival, lending its premises and grounds for the great event. The pooram festival is also well known for the magnificent display of fireworks. Fire works start in the early hours and the dazzling display last three to four hours.

The Pooram Festival is celebrated by two rival groups representing the two divisions of Thrissur Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi vying with each other in making the display of fireworks grander and more colourful. Each group is allowed to display a maximum of fifteen elephants and all efforts are made by each party to secure the best elephants in South India and the most artistic and colourful parasols, which are raised on the elephants during the display. Commencing in the early hours of the morning, the celebrations last till the break of dawn, the next day.

The marvellous as well as magical effect of the Panchavadyam, a combination of five percussion and wind instruments is to be felt and enjoyed. Among the varieties of festivals celebrated in Kerala, Thrissur Pooram is the most thunderous, spectacular and dazzling. There are three temples participating in the event. It is an expression of popular fascination for sound and colour, and because of the pageantry, it appeals to all people. The images of the deities from all temples of the village are taken on elephants to the main temple. The climax of the festival is the exhibition of thirty elephants and the famous fireworks at 2.30 am local time.

Vadakumnathan Temple gate

Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple gateAdhering to the medieval Peruvanam tradition, the festival is confined to the temples of Devi (goddess) and Sastha (divine combination of Shiva and Vishnu). Ten deities from the neighboring temples pay obeisance to the presiding deiety of Thrissur.

Principle participants are Paramekkavu and Tiruvambadi, close to the Vadakunnathan temple. Also participating and known as constituent Poorams are the suburban temples at Kanimangalam, Karamukku-Chiyyaram, Choorakkattukara-Amala, Laloor, Ayyanthole, Neithilakkavu-Kuttoor, Chembukkavu and Panamukkampilly-Eastfort Thrissur for a total of eight deities. The sprawling Thekkinkadu maidan, encircling the Vadakumnathan temple, is the main venue of the festival .

Christmas- Introduction and Date of celebration

Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated Christian festivals all around the world. It is annual holiday celebrated on the 25th of December to honor the birth of Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus Christ as he is more popularly known. It marks the beginning of the Christmas Season, also known as Christmastide which lasts till 12 days from the day of Christmas, i.e. from 25th of December till 5th of January. Christmas Day also corresponds to the onset of winter , the seasonal significance of which is that of lengthening of nights and shortening of days. Christmas is celebrated throughout the Christian population as well as among a wide population of Non-Christians as a cultural festival. Christmas season is a season of love for everyone, generosity, kindness, happiness and laughter. It is a season when everyone comes together in celebration for the almighty.
When is Christmas:

Christmas, Xmas or Christmas Day is celebrated every year on 25th December and the festivities last for ten day upto the 1st January which is the New Year Day.
Meaning of Christmas The English word Christmas has been derived from the words Cristes maesse (from Middle English), or Christ`s Mass (from old English) meaning Mass on Chirst's Day. The term Christmas is also abbreviated as Xmas, in which 'X' has been used for Christ in Roman. Christmas festival is known by different names like: Nativity, Incarnation, Yule Tide, Noel and Winter Pascha.
History of Christmas :

Historians claim that the first celebration of Christmas happened in Rome in 336 A.D. Early Romans, however, could not profess their religion openly as Christianity had grown up in blood and tears in Rome. It was only after the conversion of Emperor Constantine to Christianity in 4th century A.D that the religion came to be followed by vast masses of humanity. This community then felt the need to celebrate the birth of Christ as a festival. But different groups had been celebrating Jesus's birth on different dates like 6th January, 19th April, 20th May, 17th November, 25th December. By the 5th century A.D. 25th December got accepted as the most suitable date in the Western World and gradually the Eastern Churches fell in line with the west.
Besides, traditionally the middle of winter has long been a time of celebration around the world. Even before the arrival of Jesus, many peoples rejoiced during the winter solstice, when the worst of the winter was behind them and they could look forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight.
Christmas Food And Recipies: It is a great time for food lovers during Christmas on account of the great variety of food prepared for the same. Christmas food traditionally includes apple cider, turkey, custard, candy, champagne, christmas cookies, fruitcake, gingerbread, ham, hot chocolate, all sorts of pies like apple, pineapple, pumpkin etc.
Christmas Celebrations:

Today, Christmas is celebrated on a grand-scale all over the world. Christians and even the non-Christian community participate with great enthusiasm in the various festivities associated with it. Markets, homes and churches take on a festive air. There is lot of activity all around. So much enthusiasm is witnessed everywhere that people get high on the spirit of the festival. Balls, elaborately decorated Christmas trees, delicious cakes and Santa Claus moving in the streets distributing goodies to the children are the main attractions of the festival.
People visit friends and relatives on the day and participate in the masses held in churches. Children particularly enjoy the festival as they receive gifts from their favourite Santa and elders. They also love decorating scenes of Nativity in their houses. Exchanging cards has also become a very important part of the festivities. Besides markets are flooded with a lot of decorative items on the day. People of all ages look forward to Christmas holidays with lot of zeal.
Christmas Tree and Christmas Decorations :

During the ten days long celebrations of Christmas or Xmas one thing among the others plays a pivot role that is called a Christmas Tree. As an integral part of the traditions associated with this festival, a Christmas Tree is bought and placed inside or outside the house and decorated with lots of colorful goodies like stars, balloons, candies, light-bulbs, teddies with an angle placed at the top as the host of the angles. To place the Christmas Tree both natural and artificial trees are in which the artificial ones are sold in different shapes and sizes, right from the desk-top size to the larger ones. There are several other options of Christmas Tree made of plastic and metals like aluminum. For decoration of a Christmas Tree, generally the family traditions and individuals' likings prevail but most commonly the tree is adorned by colors, lights and shimmering ornaments.
Santa Claus The Father of Christmas :

Santa Claus is also known popularly as Saint Nicholas, Father of Christmas and represents the spirit of merriment and the joy of giving gifts to good children across the world. This legend is believed by some to have originated from Saint Nicholas who is considered to be a historical figure of giving gifts.

Onam Festival - Pookalam