The renowned Thrissur Pooram festival hailed as the mother of all temple festivals in Kerala, faced a significant setback in the early hours of April 20, as police intervention marred the centuries-old traditions and festivities. The festival, known for its vibrant celebrations and elaborate rituals, suffered a humiliating blow as police actions disrupted the sanctity of the event.
Amidst the colourful scenes and religious fervour, police officers breached the sacred space of the nalambalam, the circular area surrounding the shrine, by entering with their boots on. This act, considered a blatant violation of temple traditions and a direct contradiction to a High Court order, sparked outrage among devotees who witnessed the sanctity of the rituals being compromised.
The disruption caused by the police intervention not only tarnished the spiritual essence of the festival but also resulted in the halting of night festivities. The highly anticipated fireworks display, a hallmark of the Thrissur Pooram, was delayed from its usual early morning slot to 7:30 am, robbing thousands of spectators of the visual spectacle they had eagerly awaited. Instead of witnessing the dazzling display of colors lighting up the sky, attendees were left disappointed and frustrated, forced to content with only the distant sounds of the fireworks.
Despite ongoing challenges faced by the festival in previous years, the obstacles presented this time around cast a shadow of uncertainty until the eleventh hour.
The daytime rituals of the Pooram proceeded without incident on April 19, instilling hope for a successful celebration. However, as night fell and the festivities continued, disruptions ensued when Thiruvambady Dewasom’s procession was obstructed by police barricades, halting the traditional ezhunnellippu procession accompanied by the rhythmic beats of panchavadyam.
Subsequently, Paramekkavu Dewaswom’s procession also faced impediments, with only one elephant permitted to proceed while the rest were halted by barricades. The heavy-handed actions of the City Police Commissioner led to the blockage of musicians and elephants, prompting Thiruvambady Dewasom to call off their participation in the Pooram festivities, casting uncertainty over the scheduled fireworks display.
Amidst the chaos, BJP leader and NDA candidate for the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, Suresh Gopi, intervened to mediate discussions between the Dewasom officials and the authorities. Despite initial communication challenges with senior police and civil officials, a breakthrough emerged as Thiruvambady Dewaswom announced their readiness to proceed with the fireworks display.
Shortly thereafter, Paramekkavu Dewaswom followed suit, confirming that the fireworks would commence by 6:30 am, bringing a semblance of resolution to the tumultuous situation.
Critics, including Hindu leaders and BJP officials, alleged that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government targeted Hindu religious institutions, echoing similar sentiments expressed during the Sabarimala temple controversy in 2018. They highlighted instances where temples were allegedly seized by the CPM-controlled Malabar Dewaswom Board, citing a pattern of attacks on Hindu faith and rituals.
Swami Jithathmananda of the Chinmaya Mission in Kerala suggested that the display of an image of Ram Lalla in the festival’s decorations may have provoked the disruptions, calling it a matter of shame for the Hindu community. Similarly, Hindu Aikya Vedi leader R.V. Babu expressed concern that such displays could offend certain groups.
BJP spokesperson Adv. B. Gopalakrishnan condemned the police’s actions, accusing them of attacking temple authorities and resorting to lathi-charges. The absence of local MLA K Rajan,Minister and Local MLA and sitting MP TN Pratapan during the incident raised further questions.
Kummanam Rajasekharan, a senior BJP leader and former Mizoram Governor, criticised the LDF government’s response, accusing them of ignoring democratic protests. BJP state president K. Surendran likened the incident to the Sabarimala temple controversy, calling for an inquiry into the matter.
Responding to the allegations, a BJP leader and NDA candidate in the Kozhikode Parliament constituency, MT Ramesh, emphasised the role of the police in maintaining law and order, urging temple authorities to oversee traditions and rituals independently.
Dr. K.S. Radhakrishnan, BJP state vice president and NDA candidate for the Ernakulam constituency, stated that the display of Chandrayaan and Ram Lalla pictures had upset some individuals. He emphasised the constitutional right to faith and worship.
Meanwhile, poet and lyricist R.K. Damodaran suggested that there may be a hidden agenda behind the disruptions, lamenting that the festival seemed more like “Police Pooram” than the traditional Thrissur Pooram.
