THRISSUR: Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu devaswoms, the two main participants of Thrissur Pooram, will conduct the sample fireworks display on Sunday evening. The display of elephant accoutrements of both the devaswoms will also begin in the morning hours on Sunday.
Paramekkavu devaswom is expected to light the display first this time, and this will be around 7pm. It will be followed by the sample display of Thiruvambady side, around 7.45pm. The sample display will be a curtain raiser of the main fireworks display to be held in the wee hours of Wednesday, while the Pooram events as such will begin on Tuesday morning.
The office-bearers of both the devaswoms are happy that they have received the permissions for the fireworks displays earlier from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) this time.
However, it remains to be seen whether the authorities and organizers will be able to enforce the restrictions stipulated by the PESO in the conduct of the fireworks display to avoid any untoward incidents. Already there are demands to ease the curbs to give closer access to the people for watching the fireworks display, and the clamour supporting it is likely to intensify further considering that Pooram is being held at its earlier scale after a gap of two years.
Police have made it clear that Pooram fans will be allowed to watch the fireworks displays, from a distance of 100m, from the fire-line. The spectators will be allowed to come only up to the entry points of Swaraj Round, in the areas close to the fire-line. Traffic will be completely banned in the Swaraj Round from 3pm on Sunday, till the sample fireworks displays are over.
Another challenge for the officials, organizers as well as the public will be that CBSE Class X and XII exams are scheduled on the Pooram days on May 10 and 11. Police have said special efforts will be made to ensure transport of students to the exam centres.
Revenue minister K Rajan visited all the eight participating temples on Saturday to review the Pooram preparations.
