Kerala, the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, is about to witness one of the largest gatherings of women in the world today, for the “Attukal Pongala”. The ritual made it to the Guinness Book of World Records in 2009 for being the largest religious gathering of women on a single day when over 2.5 million took part in it.
Attukal temple is also known as the “women’s Sabarimala”. Lakhs of Women prepare the Pongala to appease their favourite deity, the Attukal Bhagavathy for the peace and prosperity of their families. In ‘pongala’, devotees prepare a mix of rice, jaggery and scrapped coconut in pots in makeshift brick stoves.
Attukal pongala is not only a cherished tradition but also a testament to unity, faith, and collective devotion as every year the nearby churches, temples and mosques facilitate the ritual equally. As a large number of devotees are expected to reach the city, authorities have made elaborate arrangements including traffic restrictions, security and health facilities along with strict adherence to green protocol. Railways are also running special trains on the occasion.
