Discover Cherthala: Pooram and local history

When choosing a travel destination, Cherthala offers two distinct points of interest: its location between Alappuzha and Kochi, and the traditional customs of the Cherthala Pooram. The town lies on National Highway 66. This geographical context can help you make an initial choice of destination. If you are planning a hotel stay, you can also consider whether the Pooram or local traditions about the place’s name match your interests.

Rituals at the Cherthala Pooram

At the Cherthala Pooram, women and girls carry Thalappoli: plates decorated with oil lamps and flowers and offered to the goddess. The custom involves both decorating the plates and presenting them. Thalappoli refers to a specific ritual act within the Pooram, not to the entire festival. For travelers interested in local festival traditions, this distinction is useful because it draws attention to one particular part of the Cherthala Pooram.

Another part is the Aarattu ritual. During the Cherthala Pooram, it takes place twice daily in seven different ponds—unlike at other temples. The details describe two aspects of the ritual: twice daily indicates its frequency, while the seven ponds provide its setting. Aarattu and Thalappoli can therefore be distinguished: one is described in terms of its repetition and the ponds, the other in terms of the decorated plates and their presentation. This makes it clear that the two rituals are distinct elements of the Pooram.

Timing and local traditions about the name

At the community level, the Cherthala Pooram begins about two days before Kodiyettam, the flag-hoisting ceremony. This relative timing links the start to a named moment in the course of the festival. If the Pooram is important to your travel plans, check the specific event dates before booking.

According to local tradition, the area was incorporated into Travancore under a protection agreement; the name Cherthala is said to derive from this. The account of the name connects the area's incorporation into Travancore with an explanation of the place name, while clearly presenting it as tradition. This offers a different perspective from the description of the festival: while Thalappoli and Aarattu are specific rituals, this is about the story behind the name. For anyone interested in local history as well as festival customs, it provides a separate topic to explore in Cherthala.

Choosing Cherthala as a destination

When planning, it helps to consider the choice of place and the reason for your trip separately. Cherthala’s location between Alappuzha and Kochi provides geographical context; the Pooram rituals offer a cultural connection, and the tradition about the name provides a historical perspective. If you are planning to travel specifically for the Pooram, include the specific event dates in your plans.

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