Click to play videoThrissur (Kerala): Caparisoned elephants are displayed accompanied by the traditional panchavadyam orchestra on Thrissur Pooram every year.
However, this year the Kerala High Court has thrown water over the festivities, even before they have begun.
It has upheld an earlier ban on parading elephants between 1100 hrs (IST) and 1400 hrs (IST) at all festivals.
The ban had earlier been modified to allow the Thrissue Pooram festivities, but with elephants running amok at the last Pooram, an animal rights group had approached the court seeking a complete ban.
"Mahouts were killed by elephants by during this time only," says President, Elephant Lovers' Association, P Venkitesan.
With just 20 days to go before the festival, the order couldn't have come at a worse time.
Pooram enthusiasts point out that the ban would affect age-old ceremonies including Madathil Varavu and Ilanjithara Melam.
The festival organisers, now want the state government to step in.
"We will request the government to amend the law for the conduct of Pooram. We will also file a writ in the High Court," says President, Paramekkavu Devaswom, K Manoharan.
The famed fireworks display at the Pooram is already heavily regulated.
And with the caparisoned elephants too set to go it seems Thrissur Pooram will soon be a shadow of its past.
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