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 The
Confederation of Tamil Nadu Malayalee Associations (CTMA) will
stage the famous Thrissur Pooram in Chennai for the first time
on Sunday, September 30, 2007, at St George's AI Higher
Secondary School (Opp Pachaiyappa's College), Poonamalee High
Road. The event is scheduled to start at 2.30 p.m., and is being
conducted as part of the annual CTMA festival, Aavanipoovarangu,
CTMAS founder president M P Purushothaman said.
A herd of 11 caprisoned life-like elephants
will be displayed with full decoration including silk umbrellas,
peacock fans, yak-tail fly whiskers. Colourful silk parasols
will be on show for 'Kudamattom'. A team of 250 artistes from
Thrissur will play the melam, panchavadhyam and all other
essential components of the Pooram festival.
 This
is expected to be an audio treat involving synchronised playing
of the five specialised percussion and wind instruments, thimila,
maddalam, trumpet, cymbal and edakka, a rendition of the
original 'Elanjitharamelam'.
The grand finale will be in the form of an
exquisite display of firecrackers, which will be a visual treat
as well for over an hour, Purushothaman said.
The Pooram carnival is being held as part of
'Aavanipoovarangu 2007', the annual Onam celebrations of the
confederation. This year's unique celebrations are dedicated to
the Government of Tamil Nadu for granting a holiday for Onam
festival in Chennai, in consideration of CTMA's appeals,
Purushothaman added.
The two-day long celebration of this year's
Aavanipoovarangu will be flagged off on Saturday, September 29
at 8.45 a.m. with a ceremonial flag hoisting by M P
Purushothaman, founder-president of CTMA. After a short display
of 'Pancharimelam' by artistes from Kerala, a sports meet for
the members and their families will be held from 10 a.m.
onwards. The meet will be declared open by Arjuna award winner,
Wilson Cherian. A literary seminar and poets' meet, in which
poets and writers from other languages also take part, will be
on from 11.30 a.m., to be inaugurated by Gireesh Puthenchery,
the renowned Malayalam film lyricist.
Cultural performances by CTMA member
associations will be held at the venue from 5 p.m. onwards on
September 29.
There will be a food festival and a consumer
exhibition organised at the venue during the two days of the
event.
On Sunday September 30, a Pookkalam
competition will be held in the forenoon, followed by folk art
performances by artistes from Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The grand Pooram will start at 2.30 p.m. with
'Singari Melam', 'Panchari Melam', Thira, Theyyam, Oyilattam,
Silambattam, Karakattam, and the magnificent Pooram percussions
and elephant display with 'Kudamattom' till 5.30 p.m.
Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala will
be the chief guest for the public meeting to be held at 5.30
p.m. Tamil Nadu Law minister M Vijayakumar will deliver a
special address. David T Hopper, US Consul-General, will be the
guest of honour.
After the brief meeting, there will be a 'Thira
Nottam' with introduction to CTMA and its various socio-cultural
initiatives. Special awards will be given to selected
individuals in recognition of their contribution in the social
service segment.
 This
will be followed by the 'Vedikkettu', the spectacular display of
fireworks which will light up the skies of Chennai for over an
hour starting from 7.30 p.m.
To add glamour to the various events, film
artistes Jayaram and Kavya Madhavan will be present. Kalabhavan
Mani will do a live performance of mimicry and folk songs, said
Nanda Gvovind, president, CTMA. Arrangements are being co-ordinated
by K V V Mohanan, vice-president, P V Balan, general secretary,
K V Nair, VP & chairman, Celeb Committee, V Parameswaran Nair,
general convenor, Celeb Committee.
R Rangaraj
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