For the first time in 58 years, Kerala's most popular festival celebration, Thrissur pooram, has been officially cancelled in the wake of the extension of the nationwide lockdown to May 3 to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.

A cabinet meeting held on Wednesday decided to cancel all the extravaganzas related to the pooram and host only the tantric rituals related to the festival that will take place in the presence of 5 persons within the temple. All other events related to the Thrissur pooram including the exhibition of the elephants, bursting fireworks and, mini-poorams also stands cancelled.

This year's festival was scheduled to be held on May 3. Thrissur pooram was earlier cancelled during many instances, including in 1948 when Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated and then during the Chinese war.

Billed as the 'mother of all festivals' in Kerala, dates back to the late 18th century and was started by Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of the erstwhile Kochi state. The most keenly watched event of the pooram festivities is the grand display of elephants' parade of more than 50 jumbos, decorations, melams, fireworks and colourful parasols. The festival is hosted by the Thiruvambadi and Paramelkavu temples on the grounds of the famous Vadakkunnathan temple, Thrissur.