Attukal Pongala Festival at Trivandrum

Attukal Temple Main Entrance

Today is the Attukal Pongala Festival.  That is when the "largest gathering of women in the World" happens.  There is a Guinness world record registered for this festival.  During my childhood days, this was a time of joy and festivities.  The days leading to the "Pongala" festival were very eventful with lot of programs and activities planned by local clubs and temples.  Everyone in the city irrespective of their religion participated in them.  We used to have "Ganamela" during the nights near my place at Karamana.  Singers used to sing popular Malayalam and Tamil songs throughout the night.  The temple also use do have daily music and dance programs all the 10 days. On the day of Pongala, the local clubs and residents used to serve "Panakkam" (a drink made of jaggery, cardomom and sugar) and "Sambaram" (a drink made of curd, water, curry leaves, ginger and salt) to devotees.

Attukal Temple

Trivandrum city itself paints a festive look with no vehicle movement and full of devotees who comes from different parts of the city, state and neighboring states.  The story of Attukal Temple is linked to Tamilnadu.  It is believed that Kannaki, the central character of Tamil epic Silapathikaram, came to Trivandrum on the way to Kodungallur.  Kannaki is the diety in the Attukal Temple.  The temple is situated in the banks of Killi river and is very near to the city center.

Ladies making Pongala in mud pots using brick stoves

During the Pongala Festival, millions of ladies get together to pray the goddess and offer her "Pongala" (rice cooked with jaggery, ghee, coconut as well as other ingredients).  It is cooked in earth pots around the temple.  During recent times due to high number of devotees coming to the temple, the area where pongala is prepared has grown to few kilometers around the temple covering most parts of the city.  There were around 2.5 million ladies performed pongala last year, and this year is said to surpass this mark.  During this day, only ladies and kids are allowed near the temple where pongala is performed. 

Pongala getting prepared

When I see the live telecast of this festival in the Malayalam TV channels today, it takes me back to good old days.  It has been a while since I could participate in the Pongala.  I tried to remember when was the last time.  No, I can't remember it.  It has been that far back since I was in Trivandrum during this time.  May be I should plan to attend it next year.

Attukal Temple Pond

Excellent pictures about Attukal Pongala can be found at http://attukalpongala.blogspot.com/