[2][4] About 15,000 pilgrims were visiting the temple to mark local Hindu celebrations during the last day of a seven-day festival of the goddess Bhadrakali.

[5] On 13 April, in the aftermath of the event, the Kerala High Court banned the display after sunset of sound-emitting firecrackers in all places of worship in the state.

[6] This was the second major firework disaster reported in the news within southern India in recent years, after the Sivakasi factory explosion in the state of Tamil Nadu on 5 September 2012.

[8] Temples in southern India often have festivals with displays of fireworks and firecrackers to appease the female deity.

[9] On 10 April 2016, two groups of devotees set off fireworks while thousands participated in the festival at Puttingal temple.

[10][11] The fire took place at approximately 03:30 IST (22:00 UTC) when an explosion occurred in a stash of firecrackers stored in the temple for upcoming Vishu celebrations.

"[22] A Malayalam film named Kuttanpillayude Sivarathri was released in 2018 starring Suraj Venjaramoodu and was based on the incident.