COVID-19: No restriction on individuals’s participation throughout Thrissur Pooram

By Express News Service
THRISSUR: Thrissur Pooram and related exhibition can be carried out in all its glory with none restriction on individuals’s participation, whereas Devaswom committees can be accountable for crowd administration. 

A choice on this regard was taken at a gathering convened by Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar within the presence of District Collector S Shanavas and Devaswom committees on Sunday. 

Earlier, District Medical Officer Ok J Reena had submitted a report calling for proscribing the entry of public to the exhibition within the wake of surging Covid instances.

The report advised entry of 200 individuals to the exhibition stalls at a time.

However, the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswom committees protested in opposition to the report and threatened that they are going to cancel the pooram if “unnecessary restrictions” are enforced. 

“The state government had already said that Thrissur Pooram would be held with all its glory. Reports that say otherwise should not be taken into consideration,” mentioned Sunil Kumar. 

The collector mentioned the pooram can be carried out following all its rituals.

“Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu devaswom committees and the Cochin Devaswom Board will jointly monitor the crowd. All devaswom staff above 45 years should take vaccination before the festival and special arrangements will be made for it,” mentioned Shanavas. 

The collector added that the town police will coordinate with the committees in controlling the gang and test if Covid protocols are strictly adhered to.

While the DMO was unavailable to remark, the minister mentioned the officer’s report could be withdrawn and it might not have an effect on the graceful conduct of the pageant.

Meanwhile, UDF candidate Padmaja Venugopal, who had introduced a protest strike on Monday demanding the conduct of Thrissur pooram with all its grandeur, mentioned she would go forward with the strike demanding written orders that the pooram could be carried out uninterrupted yearly.