This year’s Thrissur Pooram, scheduled to be held on Sunday, will be held without fireworks and by significantly reducing the size of the event.KodamatamAn ‘umbrella exchange’ ceremony took place following the explosion at a fireworks unit in Mundathikode, killing 10 people, officials said on Thursday.
The decision was taken at a meeting attended by government representatives including Devasom Minister V N Vasavan, Union Minister of State and Member of Parliament for Thrissur Suresh Gopi and representatives of Devasom temples in Paramikavu and Thiruvambadi.
The step to reduce celebrations aims to respect public feelings, especially the feelings of the families of the ten people who were killed while collecting explosives for the “sample.” vedikettu(Fireworks display) in Thrissur Pooram. At least 12 people with serious injuries are undergoing treatment in hospitals, while three others are still missing.
“All essential rituals of the Puram including”Ilangithara melam(Rhythm band) will be performed. the ‘KodamatamIt will be held briefly for a few minutes as a symbolic gesture. “There will be no fireworks display,” Paramekkavu Devaswom secretary G Rajesh said.
one “KatinaHe added that the (cracker) will be exploded as part of the Pooram rituals.
Thiruvambadi Devaswom Secretary Girish Kumar echoed similar sentiments and added that this year’s celebrations would not have the usual ‘festive’ tone.
Thrissur Pooram Temple, which attracts hundreds of thousands of people every year, involves various temple rituals on the grounds of Vadakumnathan Temple in the heart of the city. The festival witnesses winged elephants from various temples in and around Thrissur marching to Vadakkumnathan Temple. On the temple grounds, elaborate rhythmic ensembles take place, followed by a display of colorful umbrellas in the evening.
Intensive police searches for body parts are still ongoing
On Thursday, a large-scale search for the remains of those killed in the explosion continued by dozens of police officers through the rice fields surrounding the explosion site.
As part of the search efforts, an officer said that a charred human head, without an ear, was found in the bush, about 300 meters from the explosion site. The officer added that the remains will have to be subjected to DNA testing to identify the deceased.
As of Thursday, volunteers and police officers had recovered more than 32 body parts from in and around the blast site in Mundathikode. DNA tests on body parts began on Wednesday, and the results are expected to appear within the next two or three days.
The official death toll in the disaster was 10 people. At least 12 others are undergoing treatment in different hospitals.
