Devaswoms seek ‘higher level’ intervention for conduct of Thrissur Pooram

Thrissur: Hours after a Kerala High Court order banned use of high-decibel fireworks in the night, two major Devaswoms in Thrissur have sought "higher level" intervention to organise the state's famous Thrissur Pooram, festivities of which commenced on Monday.

A joint meeting of office bearers of Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi Devaswoms held here said it will be forced to avoid the major attractions of the Pooram-- processions of majestically caparisoned elephants, changing of sequined parasols and fireworks display--"unless there is a higher-level intervention to organise it in a traditional way."

"If it is organised as a ritual, there will be only one elephant for the purpose," Thiruvambadi Devaswom president Madhavankutty told reporters.

Devaswom sources said they were planning to apprise the high court of an earlier supreme court verdict on conduct of Pooram festival.

The meeting was also held against the backdrop of the Thrissur City Police Commissioner issuing notices to the Devaswoms to ensure that no chemicals such as Potassium Chlorate, which are commonly used for fireworks as part of Pooram festival, be used during this year's Pooram festival, culminating on April 17.

The police chief warned that the Devaswoms presidents will be held responsible, if the law is violated. The notices were issued following the court order directing a ban on the use of sound-generating fireworks between sunset and sunrise in places of worship.

Thrissur is best known for its Pooram festival and it is the most colourful and spectacular temple festivals of Kerala. Devotees and spectators from all parts of the state and even outside throng the Pooram introduced during the reign of Sakthan Thampuran (1775-1790), the Raja of Kochi.

With the Kollam temple tragedy bringing to focus safety issues, the Thrissur district administration had yesterday imposed regulations including use of low decibel crackers.

The administration had decided to give sanction to two temple devaswoms (boards) to use a total of 4,000 kg low decibel fire crackers for the April 17 finale of Pooram festival.