KOCHI: The gun lobby in the US is known for its vehement opposition to any suggestions on gun control. The fans of firecracker displays in Kerala show a similar attitude when it comes to imposing control on the unbridled use of explosives in the name of fireworks display. If the National Rifle Association, the main lobbyist in the US against gun control, hinges its argument on the individual liberty, the apologists of fireworks display in Kerala take shelter in traditional rituals to rationalise their obsession.
The amount of high density explosives used in the fireworks display in some of the famed temple and church festivals in Kerala will surprise any person having an inkling of handling explosive materials in a safe and secure manner.
The fireworks display as a celebratory event is not an ancient custom anymore. It is a modern phenomenon observed in many parts of the world, including highly crowded cities such as New York, Sidney, Dubai, Paris and several other cities. A search in Internet will reveal several dazzling pictures of fireworks display in such cities. The element that separates firework spectacles in global cities and in Kerala is the regulatory system.
Unlike in Kerala, the fireworks display in major cities across the world is held with clear regulations under the direct supervision of the police and fire force officials of the city concerned. But in the case of Kerala, the system regulating the display of such spectacles involving hazardous material is either non-existent or at best ignored by everyone concerned.
