A public holiday has been declared in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, for the celebrated Attukal Pongala Festival at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. Known as one of the world's largest religious gatherings for women, this annual event was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2009. That year, about 2.5 million women participated in the rituals, earning it recognition as the largest annual gathering of women in one day.
During the festival, crowds of women gather in the city to offer ‘Pongala’ to the presiding goddess. Pongala is a traditional sweet offering made with rice, jaggery, and coconut, cooked by women in special clay pots in open spaces, devotedly dedicated to the goddess.
Source: aajtak
Considering the magnitude of the event, special restrictions on traffic and parking are implemented in the city. The administration ensures comprehensive arrangements for security and smooth operations. This annual festival is not only a symbol of religious faith but also a remarkable demonstration of women's collective strength, dedication, and cultural tradition.
What is Attukal Pongala?
The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram witnesses this event every year. 'Attukal Pongala' is a 10-day festival celebrated in the Malayali month of Kumbham (February-March). The ninth day, falling on the full moon, is celebrated as 'Pongala Day'. On this day, millions of women gather in and around the temple, preparing a sacred sweet rice porridge (Pongala) in earthen pots and offering it to the goddess.
Celebration of Women's Faith
The most unique aspect of Attukal Pongala is that it is an all-women festival. Women from various communities, educational and professional backgrounds come together, arrange hearths in rows, and collectively prepare offerings. On this day, they step away from household duties to participate solely in the worship of the goddess. The vicinity of the temple allows only priests, temple administration, and security personnel as male participants.
The deity worshipped at the temple, ‘Attukal Amma,’ is considered an incarnation of Bhadrakali. It is a local belief that the goddess joins the ritual as a common devotee on this day. This profound faith makes the event even more special.
Registered in the Guinness World Records as the world's largest annual gathering of women, Attukal Pongala first made it to the record books on February 23, 1997, with about 1.5 million women participating. Later, in 2009, a new record was set with the participation of approximately 2.5 million women. The Attukal Temple is often referred to as the 'Sabarimala of Women', drawing comparisons to Kerala’s renowned Sabarimala Temple, traditionally dominated by male pilgrims.
Source: aajtak
The Attukal Pongala is considered Kerala’s oldest Pongala festival, beginning with a ritual known as 'Aduppuvettu,' where the head priest lights the special stove called Pandarayaduppu inside the temple. This ritual is completed under the auspicious combination of the full moon and the Pooram star. At the priest's signal, the women light their hearths and commence cooking sweet rice. The sight of thousands of small flames across the temple complex and surrounding streets presents an ethereal vision. The aroma of the sweet porridge in the air and the sweet music of goddess hymns fill the devotees with spiritual energy.
During the 'Kappukettu' ceremony, the story of the goddess, 'Kannaki Charitam,' is sung. The priests conclude the ritual in the evening with a shower of flowers from the sky and sprinkling of holy water.
