Thrissur Pooram Festival Begins amid Security, Restrictions

The famous Thrissur Pooram festival is to go on as planned, fireworks and all.

Fireworks on display at Puttingal temple in Kollam. (Photo: The News Minute)

The famous Thrissur Pooram festival began here today with deities of eight small temples arriving in front of Lord Vadakkunathan temple for the annual ritual amid tight security in the light of the Kollam temple tragedy and strict guidelines issued by the Kerala High Court for its conduct.

Thousands of people, including foreign tourists have gathered at the cultural capital of Kerala to enjoy the 36-hour-long festival, which will culminate early tomorrow morning with a massive display of fireworks.

Tight security is in place for this year’s festival in light of the Puttingal Devi temple firework tragedy at Paravoor in Kollam last Sunday, which claimed 108 lives.

There were apprehensions about whether the festival could be held in its traditional form after the district administration put a lot of restrictions on organising fireworks and elephant processions in the wake of the Kollam temple tragedy.

People cutting across religious lines and politics rallied behind two private Devaswoms – Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady – demanding that the best known cultural festival of Kerala be allowed to be held in its traditional form.

The High Court and state government took a favourable position in the matter, albeit with a lot of security conditions.

Elephant parade and playing of traditional percussion instruments are the other attractions of the Pooram.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had held a special meeting with office bearers of the festival organising committee and assured them of all safety and security steps to organise Pooram festival without losing the essence of its tradition, beauty and culture.