 The
colorful daytime pageant is repeated at 10 in the night. Huge flaming torches
illuminate the processions. Once the 
"pachvadhyam" ceases at 2 am, the climax of the "Pooram" - the firing of crackers
- follows. The next 15 minutes surge forth with a scintillating display of multi-colored
firecrackers. The deafening sounds of the crackers and the colorful display, which
lights up the dark sky, thrills and literally overwhelms the spectators. A long
row of crackers lit at one end continues to explode like bombs in a battlefield!
The spectators perched on terraces of buildings are literally rocked by the shock
waves of vibrations set in by the deafening noise of crackers. The two "devaswoms"
spend a few lakhs of rupees on the fireworks. At daybreak, the fireworks display
groups assemble again in the mound and in spite of the tiredness of the previous
day, the musicians vigorously play the "chendamelam".
After a two-hour recital, the festival reaches its valediction. When the music
stops, they all depart - except the two huge tuskers with the deities. They both
link their trunks in a gesture of farewell. |
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