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Supreme Court permits bursting of firecrackers in Thrissur Pooram

J. Venkatesan

Devaswoms welcome Supreme Court clarification

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday permitted bursting of firecrackers as part of the Thrissur Pooram festivities in Kerala in April along with the customary playing of musical instruments.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice R.V. Raveendran had earlier granted permission with a condition that while playing the instruments in the festival no loudspeaker or any other amplifier should be used and the noise level should not exceed 55 decibels.

Since the order was silent on use of firecrackers, the Thiruvambadi Devaswom filed an application seeking clarification and to permit use of firecrackers at a scheduled place and time.

Counsel for the temple submitted that conducting the festival without firecrackers would be meaningless. He said people from all villages would come to watch the festivities and many foreign tourists were also expected.

He said firecrackers could be allowed at a particular time and a particular place. He also said the upper decibel limit in the noise level should be removed.

Counsel for the State Government said the State would have no objection to bursting of crackers as such festivities were going on for centuries. He said the State was contemplating filing a comprehensive application shortly on use of loudspeakers and firecrackers in temples and other places.

The Bench, however, modified the order by deleting the fixation of upper decibel limit in the noise level and permitting use of crackers in the festival.

Order hailed

Staff Reporter writes from Thrissur: The Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu Devaswoms have welcomed the Supreme Court clarification.

Office-bearers of the Devaswoms said they would speak more about it only after its full text was available to them. Thiruvambadi Devaswom secretary M. Madhavankutty said preliminary reports on the order suggest that the Pooram could be conducted without a hitch.

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