Kerala cop applies court verdict to stop tradition in midstride

Kerala's traditional aththam procession, taken out unfailingly every year in Tripunithara town (near Kochi), has become the first casualty of the much-lauded high court judgment banning bandhs (strikes) and processions.

Complying with the July 28 directive, Kochi Police Commissioner Dr Jacob Thomas has clamped a ban on the procession which heralds the harvest festival Onam, as its route and structure would affect the free movement of people.

"The procession comprising trucks, two wheelers and folk presentations was to be taken out through the town's narrow streets, " Dr Thomas told Rediff On The NeT, "It would have disrupted traffic for more than three hours."

The commissioner said he had pleaded with the organisers to change the route and format of the procession. However, they had remained adamant, saying it involved the people's sentiments.

"Allowing the procession in its original format would violate the high court order and invite contempt proceedings," he said.

Keralites attach a lot of importance to this procession which, from the time of the Travancore royalty, has continued uninterrupted. Then, the procession, in all royal splendour, used to end with the king's presenting valuable gifts to his officers and nobles. On the aththam day, the palace grounds used to be thrown open to everyone, including untouchables.

Dr Thomas said he had full respect for the people's sentiments but was helpless in the matter. "I have no authority to exempt any particular organisation from the verdict," he said, "The people themselves should approach the court to get necessary orders."

The ban on the procession, tourism officials fear, may act as a precedent for similar actions elsewhere. Thus, it has cast an uncertainty on the government-sponsored tourism celebration in Thiruvanathapuram. The week-long affair is a major tourist attraction which usually culminates in a massive procession comprising tableaux, caprisoned elephants, folk presentations, etc in the state capital.

Though the state government had earlier planned to challenge the high court order, the move was deferred in view of the strong public opinion favouring it.