THRISSUR: The sprawling Thekkinkadu Maidan on Sunday played host to another edition of the spectacular cultural festival, `Thrissur Pooram,' which is considered the `Mother of all Poorams in Kerala.'

This edition of the Pooram was also celebrated in all its traditional magnificence and splendour, setting at rest the doubts raised over its conduct by the tragic blast at a fireworks production unit claiming the lives of seven on Thursday last.

Doubts were persisting over the conduct of the Pooram this year almost till the last minute following disputes between the office-bearers of the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms on the one side and the officials of the police, district administration and the Explosives Departments on the other side.

The disputes were mainly centred on the police action against the Paramekkavu Devaswom officials following the blast at their cracker production unit at Padukkad, and on the conditions being set by the officials for the smooth conduct of the Pooram. The issues were sorted out at the parleys conducted by Collector K.S. Premachandra Kurup with the various sections involved. Even though the Thekkinkadu Maidan wore a rather gloomy look in the morning with only limited Pooram fans turning up to watch the cultural extravaganza, the flow of people started picking up by noon. The maidan became literally a sea of humanity when `kudamattam' (exchange of parasoles atop caparisoned elephants), which is the most exciting event of the Pooram, began at about 5 p.m.

The district administration and the Devaswoms had reached an understanding to `destroy' the huge quantity of crackers, which had been stockpiled at the regular fireworks display site at Thekkinkadu Maidan. And many fear that this `destruction' of the crackers may end up as a miniature Pooram vedikkettu (fireworks display).

The officials, particularly from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) and the police departments, suggested that the `destruction' of the crackers could be carried out at a deserted site at Puzhakkalpadam, about 2 km away from Thekkinkadu Maidan. But the Devaswoms insisted that the `destruction' should be carried out at the Thekkinkadu Maidan itself. The Devaswoms felt that it would be dangerous to shift the crackers at such a stage, and they managed to get a certificate from the Forensic Department officials also to support of their contention. However, the PESO officials said they could sign the certificate only if the Forensic Department Officials attested that the finished crackers contained potassium chlorate, after conducting chemical analysis of the samples collected from them.

Finally it was decided to `destroy' the crackers at the maidan itself during early evening hours. This meant that the Pooram fans could enjoy the fireworks display for three days this year. The Devaswom office-bearers were pressing for the `destruction' to be conducted in one go on Monday.

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