Only one Elephant for this year's Thrissur Pooram

Thrissur: The Paramekkavu and Thiruvamabady Devaswam committees, the organisers of the Thrissur Pooram, have decided to conduct the Pooram on April 17 as a symbolic function with a single elephant in the wake of the interim order of the Kerala High Court banning fireworks in the night.

After holding an emergency meeting on Tuesday evening following HC order Devaswom committees stated that the remarks made by the HC have created apprehensions about the conduct of Pooram.

The Paramekkavu and Thiruvamabady Devaswam committees, the organisers of the Thrissur Pooram, have raised a question mark on the future of the colourful annual festival on Tuesday by saying it will be held as a symbolic function in which a single elephant will participate.

The Kudamattam (exchange of umbrellas) and fireworks will not be held, the committees decided in an emergency meeting held following the HC order restricting fireworks and the use of elephants in festivals. The Pooram is scheduled this year for April 17. The meeting has called for the intervention at the highest level to remove apprehensions in the wake of the HC order and smooth conduct of the traditional rituals.

The meeting has pointed out that the Supreme Court has given exemption to the conduct of Thrissur Pooram. This has to be brought to the attention of the HC, the meeting said. If the HC order is implemented the Pooram will be reduced to a symbolic function as without firework Kudamattom and procession of the elephants cannot be held, the meeting observed.