Thrissur Pooram, Huge Kerala Fest, Will Have Fireworks, Agrees Court

Thiruvananthapuram: The mega-festival of Thrissur Pooram, famous in Kerala for its parade of elephants and drummers, will include elaborate fireworks at its grand finale despite the recent tragedy that saw more than a hundred people killed after a fireworks display turned disastrous at a major temple.

Thrissur Pooram, held about 270 km from the capital of Thiruvananthapuram, ends on Sunday. It sees around ten temples in the area combining forces for a week-long spectacle that includes processions of 100 decked-out elephants and "melam", a drumming competition.

As with other festivals, a lavish fireworks display is a part of the grand celebrations, but because of the recent tragedy, a traditional competition between teams to show off whose fireworks are the loudest and best has been banned. Petrol pumps in the area will remain closed on Sunday as a safety precaution.

"No competitive fireworks will be permitted; crackers have to be within the prescribed limits," said Chief Minister Oomen Chandy ,whose government, like the state police, has been flogged by the Kerala High Court for failing to prevent the fire that ravaged the thousands gathered on Sunday morning at the Puttingal Devi temple in the coastal district of Kollam.

Kerala votes for its next government in May.

The court has now allowed fireworks, but within noise limits. It had banned noisy fireworks after sunset partly to prevent huge audiences crowding into temple complexes late at night.

On Sunday, a spark during the fireworks display at Kollam ignited a stash of explosives, leaving 108 dead and more than 1,000 injured. Fireworks had been banned for the event, but temple officials went ahead anyway; some of them have been arrested since.