Jumbos, music and sea of crowd mark Kerala's Thrissur Pooram

: The parade of richly caparisoned jumbos, performance of traditional music ensembles and a sea of cheering people marked yet another Thrissur Pooram, billed as the mother of all temple festivals of Kerala, in traditional pomp and glory here Monday.

Unprecedented security arrangements imposed in the wake of the recent Sri Lankan blasts did not deter lakhs of festival buffs, who thronged the sprawling Thekkikadu ground in front of the Vadakkunnatha Temple to have a glimpse of the annual spectacle.

Cutting across religious and age barriers, people clapped and cheered in unison when the parade and face-to-face meeting of 30 caparisoned elephants--15 each from the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady temples--was held this evening.

'Kudamattam', the change of colourful ornamental silk parasols in quick succession by people mounted atop the elephants, enthralled the spectators.

The display of 'nettipattams' (the golden caparisons) 'venchamaram' (ornamental fan made of peacock ...