The district administration has banned street vendors and the use of loudspeakers near the Attukal temple on Thursday to deal with any emergency during the Pongala festival.
District Collector Biju Prabhakar said loudspeakers had been banned to ensure smooth communication for the police in case of any emergency. Occupation of the roadside by street vendors would hamper movement of emergency vehicles and therefore, vendors would not be allowed to set up temporary shop anywhere near the temple, he said.
The police and temple trust volunteers should ensure that distribution of food to devotees did not cause hindrance to vehicle movement after the festival, an official release here said.
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The government has declared a holiday for all government offices and educational institutions in the city limits on Wednesday afternoon.
The government has also declared a regional holiday for government offices and educational institutions on Thursday.
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The administration has made arrangements at Sree Mulam Club; St. Joseph’s Church; Poojappura ground; Police Ground, Thycaud; Arts College; LMS Compound; Government Homoeopathic College, Manacaud; SCT Engineering College, Pappanamcode; Government Higher Secondary School, Karamana; NSS College, Neeramankara; Mannam Memorial Residential School, Neeramankara; Mahatma Gandhi College, Kesavadasapuram; Mar Ivanios College, Nalanchira; Tagore Theatre; and RDR auditorium, Edapazhanji for devotees to park their vehicles.