<span style="color: #222222;">In Kerala, "Poora  Vilambaram", the ritual marking the beginning of the famous Pooram festival was held at the Vadakkumnatha Temple in Thrissur this afternoon.<br />''<br />''As per the custom, an Elephant carrying the idol of goddess Neythalakkavu Bhagavathy from Kuttur reached the Vadakkumnatha Temple this afternoon to pay obeisance and to seek the blessings of the presiding deity, Lord Shiva. The elephant emerged from the temple's southern door marking the beginning of the 36-hour festivities.<br />''<br />''The Pooram festival is being held for the first time after a gap of two years, following the lifting of Covid-induced restrictions.</span><br />