05-05-2025
Illuminated pandals steal the spotlight at Thrissur Pooram
Towering above the festive grounds like celestial lighthouses, three majestic multi-tiered pandals lit up the Thrissur Pooram preview night. These glowing marvels, erected at Naduvilal, Naikkanal, and Manikandanal, dazzled onlookers with their sheer height, intricate design, and digital brilliance.
Rising over 100 feet, each of these pandals is a spectacle of luminous artistry. When the lights of the Pandals flickered on just before the sample fireworks on Sunday, the sky was suddenly painted in multiple hues. The pandals, with their precise symmetry and brilliant illumination, stood like towers of light, adding to Pooram's allure.
The crowd that came to witness the sample fireworks made it a point to tour each structure. From the royal-themed elegance of Paramekkavu's design to the digital dazzle of Thiruvambady's creations, pandals became not just places to admire but backdrops for a flurry of selfies, status updates, and viral reels.
Paramekkavu's majestic Pandal was crafted under the expertise of Nadam Baiju from Edappal. At Manikandanal, Baiju and his team took things a step further, not only adorning the structure with colourful lights, but also incorporating images and videos, giving the Pandal a distinctly modern touch. Built across four tiers on 28 pillars, the structure stands an impressive 108 feet tall. This is the fifth time Baiju has designed and constructed the Pandal for Paramekkavu.
Thiruvambady's Naduvilal pandal was the work of Seythalavi of Cheruthuruthy, who has been constructing pandals for the festival for the last 16 years. Inspired by temple towers, this year's structure rose to approximately 110 feet on 24 pillars. The digital lighting effects turned it into a kaleidoscope of wonder.
At Thiruvambady's Naikkanal, it was Pallath Manikandan from Cheroor who once again delivered architectural magic. His 90-foot-tall and 32-foot-wide multi-tiered pandal stood like a digital monument, combining intricate design with tech-powered brilliance. In his sixth year contributing to the Thrissur Pooram's visual splendor, Manikandan's creation held its head high, echoing both heritage and innovation.
