Asramam Sree Krishna Swamy Temple is one of the major Sri Krishna temples in the Kollam city located on the shores of Ashtamudi Lake. Lord Krishna is worshipped here in the disposition of Navaneetha Krishna (Krishna as a child with Butter in hand). The temple is seen on top of a mount created by digging earth from a nearby place, which now forms the temple pond. Since the temple is on a high land, one can see a flight of steps before entering through the Gopuram. The temple is managed by the Travancore Devaswom Board.
Thrissur Pooram is indeed world famous. But, now a days, Kollam Pooram is equally
colourful, eventful and attracts large crowds including foreign
tourists. Kollam pooram is in
connection with the 10 day long annual festival of the Asramam Sri
Krishna Swamy temple held in the month of April. The pooram which is
organised on the tenth day of the festival at the Asramam maidanam
attracts a large crowd. Started off as Arattu Utsavam in late 70’s, this
festival shot to limelight and came to be in the present form in 1996
after the official inauguration of ceremony by the His Highness Sree
Marthanda Varma, the Raja of Travancore.
The deities of the nearby temples partake in this festival and on the pooram day, in the morning, these deities come on caparisoned elephants to pay homage to Sre Krishna at Ashramam. This is known as cherupooram. The grand spectacle of the festival, Kudamattam ceremony is carried out by late afternoon. It is a ritual in which 30 tuskers split into two groups of 15 each, representing Thamarakulam Sri Mahaganapathi Temple team and the Puthiyakavu Bhagavathy Temple. Kudamattam which is held to the beats of traditional melam is followed by a spectacular fireworks display. Several cultural programs like ganamela, kathakali etc. are organised during the festive days.
The deities of the nearby temples partake in this festival and on the pooram day, in the morning, these deities come on caparisoned elephants to pay homage to Sre Krishna at Ashramam. This is known as cherupooram. The grand spectacle of the festival, Kudamattam ceremony is carried out by late afternoon. It is a ritual in which 30 tuskers split into two groups of 15 each, representing Thamarakulam Sri Mahaganapathi Temple team and the Puthiyakavu Bhagavathy Temple. Kudamattam which is held to the beats of traditional melam is followed by a spectacular fireworks display. Several cultural programs like ganamela, kathakali etc. are organised during the festive days.
Last time, more than 60 tuskers will took part in the festival. The 'poora chamayam' was at the SB Auditorium near the temple which attracted huge crowds. The ‘chamayam' is an exhibition of ornaments worn by elephants like 'nettipattam' and decorative umbrellas called 'muthukkuda' along with 'aalavattam' and 'venchamaram' to be used for 'kudamattam'. The festivities commenced at 7 AM with the 'pooram ezhunnallathu'. Tuskers participating in the pooram arriveD in 'cheru pooram' parades from 15 temples in the city.
The temples are the Anandawalleshwaram Shiva Temple, Koikkal Temple, Uliyakovil Sree Durga Temple, Sree Narayanapuram Subrahmaniya Temple, Kadappakada Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, Thumbara Temple, Erattakulangara Temple, Sree Sankarakumarapuram Temple, Uliyakovil Kannamathu Temple, Puthupally Madaswamy Temple, Asramam Sree Maryamman Temple, Pattathanam Sree Subrahmaniya Swamy Temple, Kollurvila Bharanikavu Temple, Thiruvadivattam Temple and Chekodu Temple.
The temples are the Anandawalleshwaram Shiva Temple, Koikkal Temple, Uliyakovil Sree Durga Temple, Sree Narayanapuram Subrahmaniya Temple, Kadappakada Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, Thumbara Temple, Erattakulangara Temple, Sree Sankarakumarapuram Temple, Uliyakovil Kannamathu Temple, Puthupally Madaswamy Temple, Asramam Sree Maryamman Temple, Pattathanam Sree Subrahmaniya Swamy Temple, Kollurvila Bharanikavu Temple, Thiruvadivattam Temple and Chekodu Temple.
After giving bath to the tuskers, feeding of the elephants was performed. The two teams of tuskers paraded for ‘kudamattam' were Thamarakulam Maha Ganapathy and Puthiyakavu Sree Bhagawathy and the ‘ezhunallathu' of both teams was at 2 PM. This was followed by the 'thirumumbil melam' (Melam before the deity) and ‘kettukazhcha' (the procession) at 3.30 PM. The pooram festivities began at 5 PM.
The main offering at Asramam temple is Kathakali performance usually Santhana Gopalam as offered by childless couples. Then there are 'Thulabharam' and 'Thottil' as special offerings apart from the usual offerings such as Paal Payasam and Archana. During the Pooram, people make 'anayootu' as an offering. The temple also has some special poojas which can be sponsored as a offering.
