Editing Thrissur (section)

== Culture ==
[[File:Thrissur Church6.jpg|thumb|Asia's tallest church, the [[Our Lady of Dolours Syro-Malabar Catholic Basilica]] is situated in the middle of Thrissur city]]

=== Festivals ===
[[File:Kerala Sahitya Akademy.JPG|thumb|[[Kerala Sahitya Academy]] building in Thrissur]]

Thrissur is known as the Cultural Capital of Kerala, the city enjoys a thriving cultural tradition dating back to centuries. [[Thrissur Pooram]], the largest [[pooram]] in Kerala, is sometimes referred to as 'the pooram of all poorams'. It is celebrated every year in the month of [[Medam]] (mid-April to mid-may) as per the [[Malayalam calendar]]. For thirty-six hours, the city plays host to a large gathering of people and elephants.<ref>{{cite web
|title=Lakhs witness Thrissur Pooram
|url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/25/stories/2010042553400400.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428221022/http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/25/stories/2010042553400400.htm
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=28 April 2010
|work=[[The Hindu]]
|date=2010-04-25
|access-date=2 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/06/stories/2006050612260400.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013113804/http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/06/stories/2006050612260400.htm
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=13 October 2011
|title=Probe into Thrissur Pooram fireworks blast begins
|access-date=2 February 2011
|location=Chennai, India
|work=[[The Hindu]]
|date=6 May 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2010/04/24/hundredsof-thousands-converge-as-thrissur-poorambegins.html
|title=Hundreds of thousands converge as 'Thrissur Pooram' begins in Kerala
|work=OneIndia
|date=24 April 2010
|access-date=2 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.sify.com/news/caparisoned-elephants-steal-the-show-at-thrissur-pooram-news-national-keyukeecgde.html
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122082035/http://www.sify.com/news/caparisoned-elephants-steal-the-show-at-thrissur-pooram-news-national-keyukeecgde.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=22 November 2011
|title=Caparisoned elephants steal the show at Thrissur Pooram
|website=Sify News
|access-date=2 February 2011}}</ref>

[[Puli Kali]], also known as ''Kavakali'', is another festival, which attracts thousands of people to the city. It is performed by trained artists to entertain people on the occasion of [[Onam]], an annual harvest festival, celebrated mainly in Kerala.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/article208655.ece
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629233539/http://newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/article208655.ece
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=29 June 2013
|title=Thousands feast on colourful Pulikali
|work=The New Indian Express
|date=27 August 2010
|access-date=12 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2010/08/27/tigerdance-performed-inkerala.html
|title='Tiger Dance' performed in Kerala
|work=OneIndia
|date=27 August 2010
|access-date=2 February 2011}}</ref> [[Buon Natale]] is the cultural festival conducting at [[Swaraj Round]] with [[Christmas]] celebration. [[Buon Natale]] procession entered the [[Guinness World Records]] in 2014 for having the maximum number of people dressed up as [[Santa Claus]]. Other important festivals celebrated in the city include [[Christmas]], [[Onam]], [[Diwali]], [[Easter]], [[Eid ul-Fitr|Eid]] and [[Vishu]].

Elephants play a major part in many of the city's festivals.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200811071875.htm
|title=Yeddyurappa's elephant gift sparks row
|work=The Hindu
|access-date=2 February 2011
|location=Chennai, India
|date=7 November 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_thrissur-elephants-get-a-jumbo-relief_1252194
|title=Thrissur elephants get a jumbo relief
|publisher= DNA
|access-date=2 February 2011}}</ref> ''Aanayoottu'' (feeding of elephants), held in [[Vadakkunnathan Temple]] in the City annually, is the world's largest elephant feeding ceremony. The ceremony is conducted on the first day of the Malayalam month of Karkidakam.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/elephants-in-kerala-tuck-into-a-jumbo-feast/68974-3.html
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125235631/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/elephants-in-kerala-tuck-into-a-jumbo-feast/68974-3.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=25 January 2013
|title=Elephants in Kerala tuck into a jumbo feast
|publisher=CNN
|access-date=17 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.sify.com/news/elephants-run-amok-at-thrissur-and-guruvayur-news-national-khsi4Tedech.html
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721033037/http://sify.com/news/elephants-run-amok-at-thrissur-and-guruvayur-news-national-khsi4Tedech.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=21 July 2010
|title=Elephants run amok at Thrissur and Guruvayur
|website=[[Sify]]
|access-date=17 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/29/stories/2005082910820400.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629063723/http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/29/stories/2005082910820400.htm
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=29 June 2011
|title=When jumbos line up to solemnise a wedding
|access-date=17 March 2010
|location=Chennai, India
|work=[[The Hindu]]
|date=29 August 2005}}</ref>

=== Literature ===
Literary lineage of city dates back to early history of Kerala but it came to prominence after Kerala Government set up [[Kerala Lalithakala Akademi|Kerala Lalita Kala Akademi]], [[Kerala Sahitya Academy]], [[Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy]] and [[College of Fine Arts, Thrissur]] for promoting literature, music and arts in Kerala. After the [[Partition of India|Indian Independence]], Thrissur became the ''literary capital of Kerala'' as turned to the playground of novelist, poets and orators. In 1952 when Current Books set its first shop in Thrissur by former education Minister Professor [[Joseph Mundassery]], it become the abode of writer's like [[O. V. Vijayan]], [[Kovilan]], [[V. K. N.]], [[Uroob]], [[Edasseri Govindan Nair]], [[M. T. Vasudevan Nair]], [[K. G. Sankara Pillai]] and [[Sarah Joseph (author)|Sarah Joseph]]. The area was later known as ''Current Moola'' ("Current Corner").<ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Thrissur-mourns-its-electric-corner/articleshow/10089257.cms | title=Thrissur mourns its 'electric' corner | first=T | last=Ramavarman | date=23 September 2011 | newspaper=The Times of India | access-date=21 May 2020}}</ref> The building that housed the Current Books bookshop was demolished in 2011.<ref>{{cite news| url = http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/demolition-of-dilapidated-buildings-begins-in-thrissur/article2472410.ece| title = Demolition of dilapidated buildings begins in Thrissur - KERALA - The Hindu| newspaper = The Hindu| date = 21 September 2011}}</ref>

Thrissur is home to prominent [[Malayalam literature|Malayalam]] literary figures like [[Kovilan]], [[Kunhunni Mash]], [[Sukumar Azhikode]], [[K. Satchidanandan]], [[Mullanezhi]], [[Sarah Joseph (author)|Sarah Joseph]], [[Attoor Ravi Varma]], [[Lalitha Lenin]], [[P. Bhaskaran]], [[Joseph Mundassery]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-23/kochi/30193550_1_book-stall-writers-malayalam
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103110935/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-23/kochi/30193550_1_book-stall-writers-malayalam
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=3 January 2013
|title=Thrissur mourns its 'electric' corner
|access-date=10 December 2011
|work=[[The Times of India]]
|date=23 September 2011}}</ref>

=== Religious buildings ===
[[File:Vadakkumnatha Kshethram - Thekke Nada.jpg|thumb|One of the four [[Vadakumnathan Temple]] Gates, inside the [[Swaraj Maidan]]]]
[[File:Cheraman Masjid 2.jpg|thumb|[[Cheraman Juma Mosque]], said to be the oldest mosque in India ]]
{{for|more|Places of worship in Thrissur}}
The [[Vadakkunnathan temple]], believed to have been founded by the legendary saint [[Parasurama]], is an example of the Kerala style of architecture and houses several sacred shrines and murals delineating graphically, various episodes from the [[Mahabharata]].
[[Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple]], one of the largest [[Krishna|Sree Krishna]] temples in Kerala and [[Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple]] which is one of the largest [[Bagavathi]] temples in Kerala is also situated in the city. Aykunnu Pandavagiri Devi Temple is situated at Venginisseri village, that around 9&nbsp;km from city center. [[Guruvayur Temple|Sree Guruvayurappan Temple]] is located in [[Guruvayur]] (28&nbsp;km from Thrissur); it is also referred to as [[Vaikuntha|Bhuloka Vaikunta]] which means "Holy Abode of Vishnu on Earth".

Asia's tallest church, the [[Our Lady of Dolours Syro-Malabar Catholic Basilica]] (Puthan Pally), [[Our Lady of Lourdes Syro-Malabar Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral]] which has an underground shrine, [[Saint Antony's Syro-Malabar Church, Ollur]] which has been called as ''Chinna Roma'' (Small Rome) are masterpieces of architecture and indigenous paintings. [[Euphrasia Eluvathingal|Saint Euphrasia's]] tomb and museum also situated in the city. [[St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Palayur]] (28&nbsp;km from Thrissur) is the first church in India, and [[Thomas the Apostle]] performed the first baptism in India here.

The Chettiyangadi Hanafi Mosque in Thrissur City is one of the oldest mosque in Thrissur. [[Cheraman Juma Mosque]] in [[Kodungallur]], (40&nbsp;km from Thrissur) is the first mosque in India.

=== Cuisine ===
The cuisine of Thrissur is linked to its history, geography, demography and culture. Rice is the staple food. ''Achappam'', ''Kuzhalappam'', ''Vatteppam'', ''Unniyappam'' and ''Pazham Pori'' are common snacks. ''Vellayappam'', a kind of [[Hopper (food)|rice hopper]] is another dish which is special to the city, they have a food street named ''vellayappam angadi''.