Thrissur Pooram-Fireworks

This annual event is part of temple festivities in my home town and is also one of the most spectacular sound and light shows. My home is only about a kilometer away from where the fireworks occur. This amateur video will give an idea of the intensity of the fireworks. The sound touches 130 decibels peak.I am told that 140 decibels can cause permanent damage to the ear :-) Yes, it is sheer madness and nearly impossible to stand your ground because of the shockwaves.
The flower pot fireworks are missing in the video which forms the other big firework attraction to the event.

The fire stick layout is quite interesting. It starts bursting in a row, then branches to two or sometimes 4. Gradually the weight of the firesticks is increased to provide greater 'knock out'. Then it ends by putting all the firesticks randomly in a mine field of firepowder and comes to a halt in an uncontrolled bursting of simultaneous firesticks.

Valentine day thoughts

Image courtesy:
1. http://xkcd.com/55/