No fireworks for Thrissur Pooram, 'Kudamattam' to be scaled down

Thiruvananthapuram: In view of the firework unit mishap that claimed 14 lives and caused severe injury to many, the fireworks associated with the Thrissur Pooram festival have been abandoned.

While the sample fireworks scheduled for April 24 and the main fireworks during the early hours of April 27 are fully called off, exchange of decorative parasols ('Kudamattam') on April 26 will be only scaled down.

A meeting convened by the state government with representatives of the Vadakkunnathan Temple and Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu devaswoms, the key organisers of the festival, arrived at a decision that the basic rituals associated with the Pooram need to be held. Hence it was decided to avoid the firework display. The 'Kudamattaom' in which elephants are paraded would be scaled down to just 15 minutes as both the devaswoms already made all arrangements. The percussion performance on April 26 will be also held.

Ahead of the meeting that was chaired by state devaswom minster V N Vasavan, representatives of the Thiruvambady devaswom said that the general feeling of the Pooram enthusiasts was to conduct the festival as usual as all arrangements were already made. He also said that there was a belief that the deity of the region would be pleased only if the Pooram festival is conducted.

However, the state government was learnt to have maintained that conducting the Pooram as usual immediately after the major tragedy could invite public ire. Hence it was decided to avoid the fireworks and scale down the 'Kudamattam' celebration.

The explosion on Tuesday took place at the firecracker unit of the Tiruvambady devaswom. As many as 14 persons were killed in the explosion and eleven injured. Identity of many body parts received from the spot were being ascertained by DNA test.

In the wake of the mishap, there was a strong demand from various quarters that this year's festival need to be abandoned.