The parallel cultural processions and pageantry organised in scores of centres in the district on Wednesday afternoon under the aegis of the rival Sangh Parivar and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) passed off peacefully in a tense situation with no reports of any showdown between participants in the rival events.
The police, however, continued to be on a high alert in view of the combative atmosphere existing in many places in the run-up to the rival processions that were viewed as an extension of the ongoing turf war between workers of the CPI(M) and the Sangh Parivar in the district.
The CPI(M)’s bid to organise parallel pageantry with the purported objective of spreading the renaissance ideas is viewed by its rivals as an attempt to counter ‘Shobha yatras’ celebrating the Sree Krishna Jayanthi. The CPI(M) branded its programme as a campaign to uphold messages of Sree Narayana Guru, Ayyankali and Chattambi Swami. The stand-off between the two sides turned many places in the district into flash-points, threatening to escalate the already existing tense situation, especially in and around Thalassery.
The CPI(M) sponsored processions christened ‘Nammalonnu’ to convey the renaissance message of the oneness of humanity featured floats and placards and performance by percussion ensembles. Party district secretary P. Jayarajan was among those leaders present to address the cultural gathering at Bakkalam, near Taliparamba.
A display of 'Thidambu Nritham’ ritual of the local Thrichambaram temple at Taliparamba was among the highlights of the procession there. processions were held in Kannur, Panur and Thalassery, among others.
The floats and placards in many places highlighted issues such as cow politics. In some places, participants performed traditional art forms such as Oppana and Pulikali. Children attired as Sree Krishna and Gopikas participated in the Shobhayatras organised by the Balagokulam.
The police said that large posse of police personnel, including armed personnel, were deployed in volatile areas here. The rival processions were held in separate spots and routes allotted by the police to avert any overlapping. In view of concerns about the law and order situation in the district, patrolling was arranged in many parts.
As part of the elaborate law and order arrangements, executive magistrates were appointed in 13 police circles in the district.
