Thrissur Pooram will be held without avoiding customs and abiding the COVID protocol, it is reported. No one will be allowed to attend Pooram without producing a COVID negative certificate. People over the age of 45 must present a COVID vaccination certificate.
It is interesting to note that in order to get a Covid negative.certificate, people have to take a Covid test. In Kerala the RT-PCR test costs Rs 2,100. The GeneXpert test cost has been revised to Rs 2,500. Tru-nat is now at Rs 2,100. Antigen testing remains the same at Rs 625. In short, whoever wants to attend Pooram has to spend a lot of money. Children would not be allowed to attend Pooram.
If Pooram is not for ordinary people, to hold it is suspect. Pooram shouldn't be for protecting someone's ego. It should be for a cause.
Of course, festivals promote diversity and bring people together. They increase the opportunities for civic pride. However, if they are life threatening, it is best to avoid them.
-K A Solaman
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