Thrissur: The Chief Forest Conservator has withdrawn its order curbing the elephant parade at the Thrissur Pooram after the intervention of Forest Minister Thiruvanchoor Rahakrishnan.
The chief conservator of forest had issued notices to Paramekavvu and Thiruvambady devaswoms asking them not to parade elephants between 10am and 5pm and after 8 pm.
With Kerala High Court banning the use of high-decibel fireworks in the night at places of worship across the state, festival organisers are getting apprehensive that the grand festival may lose its traditional grandeur.
Hours after the court had issued the order, two major Devaswoms - Paramekkavu and Thiruvampady - the major players in the festival here sought "higher level" intervention to organise the states renowned week-long festivities which commenced on Monday.
"We will not take any risk. If there are no fireworks, we will have to abandon this national festival," said K Manoharan, President of the Paramekkavu Devaswom.
Besides fireworks display, processions of majestically caparisoned elephants and changing of sequined parasols are the other major attractions of Pooram festival that culminates on April 17.