Kollam Pooram

About this event

Kollam Pooram is the colourful culmination of the annual ten-day festival of Asramam Sree Krishna Swamy Temple in Kollam, held in connection with the Vishu season in April. The celebration centres on the temple and the adjoining Asramam Maidan, where religious observances, traditional performing arts, music and cultural programmes come together to create one of the major festival occasions in the city. The temple is dedicated to Navaneetha Krishna, and the annual festival is recorded as having developed from an Arattu Ulsavam in the late 1970s before taking its present form in 1996. The festival programme begins with the ceremonial hoisting of the temple flag and continues over ten days with spiritual discourses, seminars, percussion performances, musical concerts and traditional art forms including Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Ottanthullal, Chakyar Koothu and drama. The temple premises are traditionally decorated with plantain stems, coconut leaves, flowers, lamps and other festive adornments. The Pooram, which marks the grand finale, is particularly noted for the participation of caparisoned elephants, traditional percussion ensembles and ceremonial processions. On the concluding day, Pooram Ezhunallathu brings caparisoned elephants from temples in and around the city to the Asramam temple, forming a significant part of the day's celebrations. The elephants are traditionally presented in ceremonial splendour, accompanied by melam and other temple rituals. The Kudamattam, a colourful ceremonial display involving decorated elephants and ornamental umbrellas, is another prominent feature of the Pooram. Traditional percussion provides the musical foundation for the proceedings, while fireworks form the concluding spectacle. The festival also includes rituals such as Sheeveli, Arattu and Aanayoottu, along with community-oriented activities including Annadanam. Beyond its religious significance, Kollam Pooram reflects the cultural traditions of the city through its combination of temple rituals, classical and folk performing arts, music and community participation. The event provides a setting in which several forms of Kerala’s traditional cultural expression are presented alongside the customs of a major temple festival. Asramam, one of Kollam’s important urban cultural areas, becomes the centre of activity during the festival period, drawing devotees and spectators to the celebrations. Kollam Pooram is therefore an important part of the city’s annual cultural calendar, with the Pooram procession, Kudamattam, percussion performances and fireworks forming its most recognisable elements.

🚆 Railway: Kollam Railway Station, approximately 5 km from Asramam Sree Krishna Swamy Temple.

✈️ Airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, approximately 75 km from the temple.

🚌 Bus: The temple is accessible by road from Kollam city; the Kollam Bus Stop is approximately 3 km from the temple.

🏨 Stay: Hotels and other accommodation are available in Kollam. The Kollam district administration also lists the PWD Rest House in Kollam as a government accommodation option.

✅ Notes: Kollam Pooram is held annually in April as the concluding celebration of the ten-day Asramam Sree Krishna Swamy Temple festival and is associated with the Vishu season. The exact date varies annually with the Malayalam calendar. Festival programmes, processions, elephant participation and fireworks are subject to arrangements announced for the particular year. Visitors should follow directions issued by the temple authorities and local administration, particularly around procession areas and fireworks.