Click to play videoThiruvananthapuram: It's festival time in Kerala and temples are gearing up for the big day with Thrissur Pooram round the corner but danger of accidents involving fireworks looms large yet again.
More than half a dozen people have died while making firecrackers in the state and a large number have ended up in hospitals over the last fortnight.
With the situation taking a turn for the worst, activists are now up in arms.
“The Kochi officials of the explosive department do not bother about the dangerous use of chemicals,” complains activist Venkatachalam.
But there is little this hue and cry can do especially when the Supreme Court itself has taken away the restrictions on display of pyro-techniques at Kerala's biggest temple festival, Thrissur Pooram.
However, the court order has brought back smiles on the face of many festival-lovers.
“Fire-works are an integral part of Thrissur Pooram just like the percussions and the elephants. We cannot even think of a festival without fireworks and pyro-techniques,” festival lover, P Mukundhan says.
In spite of all odds, God’s own country is now waiting with bated breadth for Thrissur Pooram, which falls on April 27.
While close to 30 caparisoned elephants will line up in front of the temple, the biggest attraction will once again be the fireworks display, which was cancelled last year following the death of six pyro-technicians. However, it's up to the authorities now to keep it an accident-free pooram.
(With inputs from Kundur Sathya Narayanan in Thrissur)
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