Thiruvananthapuram: At a meeting called by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, it was resolved not to raise the rent for the Pooram exhibition venue by the Cochin Devaswom Board, ending the standoff over organising the well-known Thrissur Pooram festival.
The conflict started when the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi Devaswoms threatened to reduce the festivities to ritual only if the decision to increase the rent for the Pooram exhibition area was withdrawn.
The Chief Minister on Friday held a meeting with all the stakeholders and directed them to continue the existing rates, with the option to decide on the hike after the Pooram.
The CM's office informed that the Devaswom officials accepted the suggestion.
Pooram is an iconic festival in the country, and it should be held without any controversies, Vijayan said.
The Devaswoms had alleged that the Cochin Devaswom Board had hiked the rent exorbitantly to Rs 2.20 crore from the existing Rs 39 lakh.
The Pooram festival will be held in the month of April.
With PTI inputs