By Mukesh 
A pall of gloom hangs over Thrissur Pooram this year in the wake of the Mundathikode fireworks unit tragedy. The scorching heat only adds to the strain.
Yet, for hundreds of Pooram lovers, staying away from the Pooram venue is unthinkable. As the southern gate of Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple swung open and Neythalakkavilamma, mounted on the elephant Ernakulam Sivakumar, stepped into Thekkinkadu Maidan on Saturday (April 25, 2026) morning, declaring open the 36-hour-long festivities with the Vilambaram ritual, the crowd erupted in a thunderous cheer.