Thrissur Pooram starts big

THRISSUR: Sample fireworks for Thrissur Pooram on Friday night marked the beginning of the festivities with the state extending help for the event. The High Court on Thursday permitted fireworks and the forest department withdrew its stringent norms on parading elephants. were filled with Pooram colours and lights in the coming three days.

The representatives of both Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu devaswoms said that all their apprehensions about the smooth conduct of Pooram had been laid to rest and that the state government had extended all support in this regard.

In the meeting held at Ramanilayam Guest House, Mr Chandy also assured the functionaries of both the devaswoms that the expense for erecting barricades at Swaraj Round to keep the spectators at a safe distance from the place of blast during the fireworks and that for the accommodation of the 40-member national disaster rescue force personnel would be met by the government.

Paramekkavu devaswom vice-president V.M. Sais said that for all the three fireworks - the sample fireworks on Friday night, main fireworks at 3 a.m. on Monday and the  mini fireworks on Monday noon - special care would be taken to minimize the sound of the blast by cutting down the size of dynamites.

Along with the CM, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, Forest Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Co-operation Minister C.N. Balakrishnan, Thrissur MLA Therambil Ramakrishnan, Collecter V.Ratheesan, Thrissur Range IG M.R. Ajith Kumar and  City Police Commissioner K.G. Simon among other took part in the discussions.

The skies of Thrissur will be filled with Pooram colours and lights in the coming three days with the cloud of uncertainty over the conduct of  Pooram cleared after the High Court on Thursday issuing permission for fireworks and the forest department withdrawing its stringent norms on parading elephants for the mega fest.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Friday morning conducted discussions with the police and revenue officials here on the ways and means to conduct Pooram  in  all its traditional grandeur. After the meeting, Mr Chandy said that the Pooram would be conducted as usual by strictly adhering to the safety norms and court order.

Paramekkavu devaswom vice-president V.M. Sais said that for all the three fireworks - the sample fireworks on Friday night, main fireworks at 3 a.m.
on Monday and the  mini fireworks on Monday noon - special care would be taken to minimize the sound of the blast by cutting down the size of dynamites.