A high-level meeting held in Thrissur on April 23 decided to conduct the legendary Thrissur Pooram as a traditional affair. There will be no fireworks, one of the most sought-after ingredients of the world-famous festival. The colourful umbrella change, a unique feature of Thrissur Pooram and a visual spectacle for millions of spectators who gather at the venue and watch the live telecast, will be carried out with reduced pomp.
The meeting took place at the Thrissur Collectorate. The decision comes in the wake of the recent fireworks mishap in Thrissur, in which several people died and many others are undergoing treatment for severe burn injuries.
Union Minister Suresh Gopi, who is also the Lok Sabha MP from Thrissur, along with members of both Paramekkavu and Tiruvambadi Devaswoms, attended the meeting. These two temples play a major role in the conduct of Thrissur Pooram. Devaswom Board members agreed to the stand taken by the Union Minister and state ministers.
According to the consensus reached at the meeting, both Paramekkavu and Tiruvambadi temples will reduce the number of elephants to be paraded for the umbrella change ritual to 15. The duration of the umbrella change will be restricted to 15 minutes.
Earlier, Paramekkavu Devaswom Secretary Rajesh had informed the media that sample fireworks would be abandoned. However, the high-level meeting decided to completely abandon fireworks. Government representatives informed the meeting that the victims of the mishap cannot be ignored, neglected, or forgotten.
Well-wishers and Pooram enthusiasts have expressed satisfaction with the new decision, as the consequences of the mishap continue to haunt them like a nightmare. Meanwhile, the number of people advocating for a total ban on fireworks is increasing. They have raised concerns over recurring mishaps, potential loss of lives, possible calamities, and the need to control expenditure
