Cochin Devaswom to make firework displays more colourful, less noisy

Thrissur: In a refreshing development, Cochin Devaswom Board (CDB) decided to launch an initiative to explore the possibilities of averting accidents during fireworks displays by making them more visually impressive and less noisy, in temples under it.Devaswom president K Ravindran said a meeting of office-bearers of different temples and devaswom officials will be convened on June 8 to discuss strategies to be adopted to make fireworks displays less noisy and more visually captivating.Govt had asked devaswom to identify methods to avert fireworks-related accidents in the backdrop of the explosion at a unit engaged in fireworks manufacturing for Thrissur Pooram. The accident in the unit at Mundathicode on April 22 had claimed 16 lives, and injured many others.Devaswom president said the meeting will discuss modern methods of fireworks production and displays available in different parts of the country and outside. Fireworks displays focussing on colours and not on noise are being held in countries like the UAE. “We are holding this meeting as a preliminary step. We may not be able to usher in such changes overnight. Much needs to be done before we can conduct a less hazardous fireworks display,’’ Ravindran said.Hailing the initiative, secretary of heritage animal task force V K Venkitachalam said the development indicated that devaswom officials were now realising the importance of introducing more safety features in fireworks displays.