Kochi: Thrissur Pooram (festival) vedikettu (fireworks) was held after the festivities were suspended by the organizers and performers due to police interventions at Thrissur on Saturday.
The Paramekkavu temple group displayed the fireworks at about 7 am against the scheduled time of 3 am. The friendly rival group of Thiruvambady will display fireworks soon. All the other events are likely to get delayed when the festival will culminate.
The stalemate, caused by unnecessary police intervention, was broken following the intervention of State Minister K Rajan, District administration and police. The fireworks scheduled for 3 am were suspended after the Thiruvambady group staged a walkout following police restrictions on Saturday, media reports said.
The restrictions imposed on the people and the performers a few hours before the vedikkettu led to suspension of fireworks.Following this the lights of the tent set up for the festival was switched off by the organizers leading to suspension of the festivities.Suspension of fireworks is happening for the first time except on earlier occasions when rains and Corona restrictions had impacted it.The anger was simmering among the performers including priests as police went harsh against the participants from the word go on Friday morning.
Those who came to witness the event were also subjected to harassment from police, the reports said. Media persons with valid identity cards were also not spared. There are allegations against police questioning the chief priest of Vadakkunnathan Temple.The festival is an obeisance paid two groups led by Paramekkavu temple and Thiruvambady temple to Vadakkumnathan temple by engaging in friendly competitions.
