It's official: Fireworks will take place on April 15, 17, says Kerala temple board
April 11, 2016  15:00
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And in Kerala, the Thiruvambadi Devaswom Board President says the fireworks will now take place on April 15 and 17 and safety measures have been taken. The board said the fireworks festivities cannot be cancelled since it was an age-old tradition.

Amid growing clamour for ban on temple fireworks display in Kerala in wake of Kollam temple tragedy, the Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages about 1,255 temples in Kerala, said it was not for a complete ban on such displays.


Prayar Goapalakrishnan, president of TDB, said the board was against banning the pyrotechnics during temple festivals as they are part of rituals.

But it should be as per the restrictions of government and court orders with sufficient safety measures, he said.

In various temples fireworks display is part of temple rituals and we cannot ban it, he said.


The board has issued an urgent circular to all temples under it, directing that the fireworks display be carried out only in compliance with rules and regulations.

Board member Ajay Tharayil, however, said he was in favour of a total ban on major fireworks.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had said on Sunday that the government could impose regulations on the display of fireworks, but cannot ban them.

In the name of rituals and traditions, we have limitations. We can regulate them (display of fireworks) but not ban them, he said.


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