In the wake of the fireworks blast that claimed 14 lives at Mundathicode, this year’s Thrissur Pooram will proceed without its iconic pyrotechnic displays. Additionally, the celebrated ‘Kudamattam’ ceremony is set to be significantly reduced in scale.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held at the Thrissur Collectorate on Thursday, attended by State Ministers, Union Minister Suresh Gopi, and representatives from the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady Devaswoms
As per the decision taken in the meeting, the festival’s ritual components would proceed as scheduled. The fireworks, both the Sample Vedikkettu, scheduled for April 24 and the main fireworks display (early hours of April 27) – key elements of the Pooram, would not be held; as a symbolic gesture, only the symbolic Kathina (loud ritualistic crackers) would be burst. The customary fireworks following the Pakalpooram have also been called off.
Kudamattam, the ceremonial exchange of decorated umbrellas involving caparisoned elephants, which usually lasts over an hour, will be limited to just 15 minutes. Instead of the typical 50 sets of umbrellas, only about 5 to 10 sets will be displayed. However, the Ilanjithara Melam, the traditional percussion ensemble, will be conducted as usual, to maintain the ritualistic core. Thrissur Pooram is scheduled to be held on April 26.
Fourteen people were killed and over 40 injured on Tuesday in a powerful explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit at Mundathikode near Thrissur in Kerala. The accident occurred during preparations for the fireworks display at the Thrissur Pooram to be held on Sunday.
At present, 12 people are under treatment at the Medical College Hospital in Thrissur. Four of them are under critical care. The government said it will bear the treatment expenses of the injured persons for six months. Beyond that, expenses in empanelled private hospitals will be covered based on the recommendation of a medical board. Even after 24 hours, there is no clarity on the exact number of victims, with searches carried out at the blast site with the help of K9 Squad’s cadaver dogs recovering more body parts on Wednesday.
As of now, eight of the 14 deceased have been identified and their bodies released to relatives after postmortem, District Collector Sikha Surendran said. The unidentified body parts recovered from the site would be preserved at the MCH’s mortuary, she said.