Fireworks banned at Sabarimala temple

Kochi: Pathanamthitta district collector S. Harikishore on Tuesday imposed a temporary ban on vedi vazhipadu (offering of fireworks using gunpowder) ahead of the Vishu festival at Sabarimala temple following  adverse reports from the police and fire force departments that nearly 420 kg of explosive materials has been stored in Sanidhanam without following any security regulations.

"The licence for conducting ‘vedi vazhipadu’ offerings in the temple had expired on March 31 and the Travancore Devaswom Board didn’t submit any application for renewal. Though they now claim to have done the same, we’ve not got any papers in this regard," Pathanamthitta district collector S. Harikishore told this newspaper. The development would mean the traditional ritual would not be held on ‘Vishu’ day on Thursday.

 "Even if they submit the application, it has to get the nod of the explosives controller. ‘Vedi vazhipadu’ is banned till further announcement. We’ll see if it can be allowed before the start of the next pilgrimage season on their giving a fresh application," he  said.

Earlier, the report of the district police chief had cited many lapses in allowing the practice. "Some 420 kg of explosive materials is kept in plastic tins in the temple without following any security regulations. Not only are the windows of the building kept open, fire is lit near this," it said.

"The offering  using gunpowder is conducted in the temple by 10 employees who do not have licence to handle gunpowder. A security person is not present at the building where the explosives are kept. The situation is that anyone, including terrorists, can enter the temple as it is situated in a forest, and seize the explosives," the report said.