Attukal Pongala 2020
The world famous
Attukal Pongala 2020
on March 09th, Monday
Source: Attukal.org
Attukal Pongala 2020 on March 09th, Monday
Experience the euphoria of religion, faith and beliefs during the Attukal Pongala festival celebrated at the renowned Attukal Bhagavathi temple in Kerala's capital city of Thiruvananthapuram. Attukal Pongala is not only celebrated in Thiruvananthapuram, the whole world is awaiting for the holy ceremony and every woman will pray to the Devi to bless them to be a part of it. The festival entered the Guinness Book of World Records is the largest annual gathering of women in the world in a single place on a single day irrespective of caste, creed or religion.
The Attukal Bhagavathy (Attukal Devi) Temple, one of the ancient temples of South India, is popularly described as Sabarimala of the Women, as women form the major portion of devotees. The Goddess in the temple of Attukal is worshipped as the Supreme Mother (Attukal Amma), creator of all living beings and the mighty preserver as well as destroyer of them all.
Highlights of Attukal Pongala 2020 March 01sh to March 10th
09.30 Am - Kappuketti Kudiyirithu
09.00 Am - Beginning of the penance for the boys who participate in the Kuthiyottam offering
10.20 Am - Lighting the Pongala Hearths.02.10 Pm - Sanctification of Pongala
[Attukal Pongala will have live telecast on all leading Malayalam Satellite Channels]
07.30 Pm - Kuthiyottam Chooralkuthu Ceremony10.30 Pm - Procession of Goddess Attukal Amma.
Akkathezhunallippu (Reentering of the Goddess to the Temple) 09.20 Pm - Kappu Azhich Kudiyilakkal12.30 Am - Kuruthi Tharppanam (Sacrificial Offering)
Source: Attukal Bhagavathy Temple Trust / attukal.org
Attukal Pongala Mahotsavam (Festival Celebrations)
Attukal Pongala Mahotsavam is a 10 days festival, which falls on February - March every year (The month of Makaram – Kumbham on Malayalam calendar). The festival begins on the Karthika star with the traditional Kappukettu and Kudiyiruthu ceremony, the idol of Devi, is embellished with Kappu (Bangles). The 9th day of the festival is the major attraction, The Attukal Pongala and Procession of the Goddess. The festival will conclude with the Kuruthitharpanam at 10th day night.
Pongala (literally means to boil over) is a ritualistic offering of a sweet dish consisting of rice porridge, sweet brown molasses, coconut gratings, nuts and raisins. Devotees offer pongala to appease the presiding deity of the temple - the Goddess - popularly known as Attukal Amma.
Only women are allowed to participate in the Pongala ritual. Right from the night before the Pongala day, thousands of women, regardless of religious faith, assemble at the temple premises and on either side of the roads leading to the shrine, to make the Pongala offering. Devotees from across the country and even from abroad participate in the ritual.