The decision of the Kerala Government to call off Thrissur Pooram, rated as mother of all festivals, has upset the followers of Sanatana Dharma and believers of temple rituals. The 19 April festival was called off by the police without furnishing any reason despite the fact the event was held without any disturbance.
Nandakishore, cine artist and R K Damodaran, poet, termed the police action as an indication of things to come in future targeting the Hindu festivals. Nandakishore said that there was a concern among devotees that the display of Lord Rama’s and the Ayodhya Temple pictures in the decorative umbrellas would have upset some political parties and religions and this could be the reason for the decision to cancel the Pooram.
Following intervention by Suresh Gopi, the BJP candidate contesting from Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency and the Chinmaya Mission, an apolitical organization, the police was forced to backtrack from its decision after hours of stand of. The customary fireworks, which marks the conclusion of the year’s Pooram was held 24 hours later on Saturday, a hitherto unheard development.
The CPI(M) which was caught with its pants down, condemned the “communal BJP” and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Friday night’s confusion though it did not elaborate on the role played by the Prime Minister. K Muraleedaran, the Congress candidate fighting against Suresh Gopi, alleged that the commotion was yet another proof of the BJP-CPI(M) joint venture to defeat the Congress candidate.
Meanwhile, Harikiran Muraleedharan, a young advocate in Thrissur filed a petition with Ombudsman, Travancore Kochi Devaswam Board, against the Kerala Police for using footwears in the Lord Mahadeva Temple by the Kerala Police. “This was in violation of the High Court order DBP-83/2003 banning wearing footwears inside temple premises and hence an action of contempt of court,” said Harikiran in his petition. He wanted strict action against this high handed behavior of City Police Commissioner Ankit Ashokan and his team of cops for hurting the religious sentiments of the believers.
“Every year the Pooram concludes with sweet memories of light, sound and the rhythm with which more than 500 percussionists create colorful music. But 2024 Pooram concluded with a sense of pathos,” said Nandakishore.
