Kochi: The tragic fire accident at fireworks making unit ahead of the famous Thrissur Pooram has led to the organisers deciding to make the mesmerizing festival a low key affair sans fireworks.
The tragedy killed 15 casting a gloom over festivities while the organisers resolved to mellow down the Kudamattam, one of the key events of the pooram.
The decision to cut short the event into a low key affair was taken at a high-level meeting held at the Thrissur Collectorate on Thursday.
Union Minister Suresh Gopi, MPs, elected representatives and Devaswom officials attended the meeting.
Kudamattam (parasol exchange) will be curtailed to just 15 minutes, with just 10 sets of umbrellas to be displayed.
Core events like Ilanjithara Melam and Madathil Varavu will proceed as planned.
Thrissur Pooram was started during the reign of Rama Varma Kunhjippilla Thampuran the ruler of Cochin state during 1790-1805. The floating of the pooram was the result of an ego clash with the Travancore Kingdom on the issue of denial of permission to temples from Thrissur to take part in Arattupuzha Pooram in Alappuzha due to trivial reasons.
Over 4000 police men are taking care of law and order situations.
Pooram is a competition between two groups of temples each led by Thiruvambady temple and Paramekkavu to please Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of Vadakkumnathan temple.
Pooram sans fireworks
