Attukal Pongala
Attukal Bhagavathi Temple, Thiruvanathapuram
The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is a Hindu religious shrine at Attukal in Kerala.The temple is renowned for the annual Attukal Pongala festival, in which over three million women participate. A festival that has figured in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the single largest gathering of women for a religious activity, the Attukal Pongala continues to draw millions of women with each passing year. Attukal Temple is situated within 2 kilometres of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvanatnapuram.
Attukal Pongala is the main festival of this temple. Attukal Pongala Mahotsavam is a 10 days festival which falls on February – March every year (Malayalam month of Makaram – Kumbham). 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 day and the festival will conclude with the Kuruthitharpanam at 10th day night.
Millions of women gather every year in the month of Kumbham around this temple and prepare Pongala (rice cooked with jiggery, ghee, coconut as well as other ingredients) in the open in small pots to please the Goddess Kannaki. 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. It is done as an offering to the presiding deity of the temple – the Goddess – popularly known as Attukal Amma. Only women are allowed to participate in the Pongala ritual.
Source : Wikipedia
The tentative date for Attukal Pongala 2017 is 11.03.2017. Maholtsavu is from 03.03.2017 to 12.03.2017
For Exact dates :
In Kerala, festival dates are decided in accordance with the Malayalam calendar and the local traditions and customs. But there can be changes in the dates according to the customs and rituals associated with each place of worship. As such, these should be considered only as approximate dates and have to be confirmed with the local authorities.
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