Protests in Thrissur demanding preservation of traditional festivals and rituals

The Aachara Samrakshana Koottayma (Ritual Preservation Group) appealed to the Chief Minister to intervene and ensure the smooth development of long-standing traditions like Poorams, Vela and Church festivals.

Protests were held at several temples in Thrissur on Sunday (December 8) against strict regulations on elephant processions and firecrackers. They have urged both the central and state governments to urgently intervene to preserve the temple rituals.

P. Balachandran, MLA, who inaugurated the meeting here on Sunday, pointed out that there are more than 3,000 festivals across the state and any attempt to regulate or restrict them will be unreasonable. He emphasized that festivals are cultural practices that connect the land and the people, similar to how Tamil Nadu responded to the Supreme Court’s ban on Jallikattu by passing legislation to protect the practice. The MLA assured that everyone, irrespective of their political affiliations, would come together on this issue. The meeting was chaired by Thrissur Mayor MK Varghese.

G. Rajesh, secretary of Paramekkavu Devaswom, said that official bodies have made impractical suggestions regarding conducting elephant processions and fireworks.

Other speakers included prominent leaders like TJ Saneesh Kumar, MLA; Thrissur Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath, former minister VS Sunil Kumar; Left Democratic Front district coordinator KV Abdul Khader; BJP state vice president B. Gopalakrishnan; Thrissur Corporation opposition leader Rajan Pallan.

Recent court verdicts, rules and guidelines, forest department circulars and central government notifications have created hurdles in holding elephant parades and fireworks, which are inseparable parts of the celebrations, the meeting observed.

The Thiruvampadi and Paramekkavu Devaswoms, the main organizers of the Thrissur Pooram, had recently clarified that under the current circumstances, the Pooram cannot be held.

The Peruvanam-Arattupuzha central committee organized a protest rally at the Peruvanma temple premises on Sunday. The group of Arattupuzha Pooram enthusiasts staged a protest on the Nettissery temple premises, demanding a solution to the difficulties caused by the Kerala High Court ruling on elephant processions, rituals and other ceremonies that have been part of the practices religious for generations.