K Girish Kumar, Secretary, Thiruvambady Devaswom, vehemently criticised the move and said permission for the fireworks display is being denied citing technical reasons and urged political leaders and ministers from the district to raise their voice against it.

“The Vela Ezunnallippu and its related fireworks are held on the same Swaraj Round where the Thrissur Pooram is conducted annually. The present move is a test dose to destroy the iconic Pooram,” he told reporters here.

Rejecting the reasons for denying permission for the fireworks display, he said the school, hospital, petrol pump and other such institutions have been there in the area for years and the rituals were held there without any issues in the past.

The fireworks display is to be conducted in the midnight after taking all necessary precautions and so it won’t pose any security issues as claimed in the order, the Devaswom Secretary further said.

Without naming anyone, he further alleged that there were attempts to block the parading of jumbos and the apex court granted permission for the same recently.

Now-a-days, the temple authorities are forced to approach the court for each and everything to protect the traditional rituals, he added.