Thrissur: The Paramekkavu Devaswom (PD) has decided not to conduct Pooram fireworks using authorised Sivakasi crackers if the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) denies permission to use traditional fireworks like gundu, amittu and dynamite with less dimensions than those used in the previous years. Mr J. Rajesh, PD secretary, said here on Sunday that his devaswom, one of the two participants of Thrissur Pooram fireworks, was not interested in using only authorised Sivakasi firecrackers.
That was why they did not blast the authorised crackers and cancelled the traditional mini fireworks after ‘Kodiyettam’ on Saturday. “We have not decided to cancel the famous Elanjithara Melam to be held on the Pooram Day on May 5, which is a major attraction of the percussion enthusiasts across the world,” he said. “But, all the people in the Paramekkavu devaswom and thattakkam (limit) are upset over PESO delaying its official permission till May 1 for the Pooram to conduct sample fireworks to be held on May 3 and the final event on May 5,” he noted.
Mr M. Madavankutty, secretary, Thiruvambadi Devaswom, said that he was hopeful of PESO giving the nod for traditional fireworks.“We have brought down the dimensions of the traditional crackers from 18 inches to 6 - 10 inches in our application to PESO and we hope that we will get permission. Whether we would opt out of the fireworks if PESO insists only on the use of authorised fireworks from Sivakasi could be said only after we get the PESO order which is expected on Monday,” he noted.
