Six months after losing her daughter in the Naxxar fireworks explosion, Helen Grech cannot bear to look out into her street and watch the decorations forming part of the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Victories this weekend.

"The decorations are out of place... I feel uncomfortable looking at them. I would have liked to move out of the village during these days," Ms Grech said, adding that the festivities around her and her family only exacerbated their sorrow after the death of her daughter.

On March 12, 35-year-old mother-of-two Sina Sammut was killed in her home as was her neighbour, 47-year-old Paul Camilleri, suspected to have been manufacturing fireworks inside his garage in Triq Ħal Dgħejf. The explosion demolished three houses and damaged others.

Ms Grech said that this year her late daughter's children, Gareth and Kirsty, were ignoring the feast. "They used to look forward to the feast but this year they barely mentioned it."

The children are living with their father at their aunt's house after their home was completely demolished.

"It's been six months since the explosions and their house has not even started being re-built... They still have to share a bed with their father," Ms Grech said.

"We are all hurt by the tragedy... Many people are hurt that the feast is going ahead as usual this year," she said.

The link between the fireworks and the village feast has caused various Naxxar residents to conclude that, this year, the feast ought to have been cancelled as a sign of mourning and respect.

Last week, some victims of the fireworks explosion expressed their disappointment at the fact that, despite the tragedy, feast celebrations of Our Lady of Victories would go on as usual and with the participation of the Victory Band Club and the Peace Band Club.

The Peace Band Club was closed after the police found fireworks stored in the basement, close to a petrol station, shortly after the explosion. The band committee was charged in court over the find.

Both the Victory Band Club and the Peace Band Club declared that they will tone down their performances during the feast.