Despite Kollam Tragedy, Thrissur Festival Attracts Large Crowd

Fireworks display at Thrissur temple in Kerala takes place days after the Kollam temple tragedy that took 108 lives.

An unidentified man weeps as bodies of victims lie outside a morgue at the Kollam district hospital. (Photo: PTI)

The famous Thrissur Pooram festival began in Kerala on Monday with deities of eight small temples arriving in front of Lord Vadakkunathan temple for the annual ritual. The rituals were carried out amid tight security in the light of the Kollam temple tragedy with strict guidelines issued by the Kerala High Court for its conduct.

Thousands of people, including foreign tourists gathered at the cultural capital of Kerala to enjoy the 36-hour-long festival, which will culminate early Tuesday morning with a massive display of fireworks.

There were apprehensions about whether the festival could be held in its traditional form after the district administration put a lot of restrictions on fireworks and elephant processions in the wake of the Kollam temple tragedy.

People cutting across religious lines and politics rallied behind two private Devaswoms – Paramekkavu and Thiruvambady – demanding that the best known cultural festival of Kerala be allowed to be held in its traditional form.

The High Court and state government took a favourable position in the matter, albeit with a lot of security conditions.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had held a special meeting with office bearers of the festival organising committee and assured them of all safety and security steps to organise the Pooram festival without losing its essence.