Thrissur: The UDF has staged a protest against a Christmas tree made from empty beer bottles that was installed by the Guruvayur Municipality near the eastern gate of the AKG Memorial.

The issue was raised at the first council meeting of the newly constituted Guruvayur Municipal Council on Wednesday. Congress councillor Basheer Pookode flagged the matter, arguing that the use of liquor bottles was inappropriate for Christmas decorations. He was supported by fellow Congress councillors Joy Cheriyan and Anto Thomas, who questioned whether the display reflected the spirit of the festival.

Opposition councillors later met Municipal Secretary H Abhilash to formally register their objections. Responding to the criticism, the secretary said the installation was intended to convey a message on recycling and the creative reuse of waste materials, and was not meant to offend religious sentiments.

However, the UDF was not ready to digest the explanation. They argued that a Christmas tree made of liquor bottles sends the wrong kind of message and should be removed immediately. Congress leader KP Arshid added that the municipality's action was simply unjustifiable, no matter how eco-friendly it claims to be.

This is not the first time the Guruvayur Municipality has invited controversy over creative installations. Two months ago, the civic body faced criticism after erecting a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in front of the Biopark. Though officially described as a Gandhi statue, it had little resemblance to the Mahatma.