The High Court of Kerala has issued a ban on wearing footwear on the premises of the Vadakumnatha Temple during the annual Pooram festival. Besides, hoardings, advertisement boards, or the flags of any political parties shouldn’t be installed at the Thekkinkad ground. The authorities have also been instructed to keep the ground plastic-free. The order was issued after considering a plea filed by a Thrissur native citing instances of desecration during the festivities last year. Besides, the High Court had also taken a suo moto cognizance in the issue related to unscientific waste management in the temple premises.
The Court noted that the rituals should be performed only by strictly following the traditions and customs of the temple and that the devotees shouldn’t be allowed to enter the temple wearing footwear. Besides, the Cochin Dewaswom Board should ensure that the regular pujas, special prayer offerings, and other rituals are properly conducted at the temple. The Dewaswom bench comprising Justices Anil K Narendran and G Gireesh instructed that the temple authorities should strictly follow these orders on the days of the Pooram festivities.
The processions from the neighbouring temples enter the premises of the Vadakumnatha Temple before returning. Besides, the famous 'ilanjithara melam or the grand percussion performance takes place in the temple premise. Thousands of devotees and Pooram lovers flock to the temple during these days. The Cochin Dewaswom Board, meanwhile, informed the Court that waste materials, including plastic waste, have been removed from the Thekkinkadu ground. The Court also instructed that the police inspector should do regular patrolling to ensure that people do not indulge in any anti-social activities in the vicinity of the ground.
