Thrissur Pooram: Kerala Govt Dilutes Festivities Amid Covid Surge; Public Not Allowed To View

Usually, the much awaited festival sees spectators from around the world. This year, as the Covid-19 cases surge, the festivities will be reduced and the remaining rituals will be conducted amid strict Covid protocols.

Image Source: www.keralatourism.org

New Delhi: The Kerala Government has finally decided to conduct the Thrissur Pooram this year but with tight restrictions on April 23rd 2021. One of the distinct sites of the Pooram is the masses of spectators, but this year, nobody will be allowed to watch the festivities at the location.

Only media persons and festival organisers are going to be allowed at the temple, that to after the provide a negative Covid-19 test or a vaccination certificate that proves they have received both doses.  

Last year, Thrissur Pooram, Kerala’s biggest temple festival was reduced to its minimum rituals without spectators in the wake of the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak, this happened for the first time in the festival’s history. This year too, the festivities and rituals are going to be reduced. 

According to The New Minute report, the decision was taken after the Chief Secretary had a meeting with a board of experts including - doctors from the Government Medical College, Thrissur. Dr Mohan Kunnumal, Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala University of Health Sciences in Thiruvananthapuram who chaired the meeting, this was to understand the risk of conducting the festival.

Cancelled Events: 

For a day, decorations or caparisons used on the elephants is exhibited for the public it is called 'Chamaya Pradarshanam' has been cancelled. Usually, it attracts hundreds of people from around the state and even the country according to The News Minute report. It further stated that Pooram or Pakal Pooram has been cancelled it is usually held once a day after the main festival. 

Fireworks and Kudamattam - a competition in which two teams display traditional umbrellas - both have been cut short this year. 

Kerala Health Minister K.K. Shailaja was quoted by The News Minute as saying, “Many preparations have been made for the festival, so it is not possible to cancel it entirely. It will cause many problems. Clear instructions have been given to conduct it with caution which the Devaswom committee has been agreed to. Even those who test negative should still wear masks, apply sanitisers and keep as much distance as possible from each other.” She emphasized that the cancelling the festival altogether will "cause many problems", ahead of the Chief Secretary's meeting with experts.