U must watch, the PONGALA

Attukal Pongala, Lord Bhagavathy

As I ve earlier mention about you the Importance of Lord Devi. I would Like to give the website of that temple. If you are interested, you can visit that site too.

www.attukal.org

Basically, I belong to Chennai. But this year 2009, I am spending my days in Thiruvanthapuram. As I came to know that, in Kerala, Apart from Onam Festival, the another important festival is celebrating here is "ATTUKAL PONGALA", which has been recorded in Guiness Book. And as Goddess Bhagvathy Grace, I am residing near the Attukal Temple. So I am quite happy. I was eager to wait for that festival. As the Festival came nearby, there was so many lighting in our places, full Police Security,heavy rush to see the Goddess Bhavathy. Before the festival itself it was so crowd in the temple. Every day, millions of people came to temple to get the darshan from Attukal Amma. On that Festival Day (March 10th), I saw lot of Womens from different places came here to put PONGALA. I haven't seen such type of festival in any other places. This Festival is mainly considered for Womens.


The Pongala Mahotsavam is the most important festival of Attukal Bhagavathy Temple.


Attukal Pongala is an extremely popular, essentially women's festival celebrated in ancient Bhagavathy temple (Mudippura) at Attukal in the Kaladi ward of the Thiruvananthapuram district. It is a ten-day-long event which commences from the Bharani day (Karthika star) of the Malayalam month of Makaram-Kumbham (February-March) and comes to an end with the sacrificial offering known as Kuruthitharpanam at night.


A large number of women of all castes and creed from Kerala and also from the state of Tamil Nadu make offerings for the Goddess by cooking pongala in the vicinity of the temple.

'Pongala' means to boil over. It refers to the customary offering of things which please the deity. It consists of porridge of rice, sweet brown molasses, coconut gratings, nuts and raisins.


Mammoth gathering of women devotees from all religions participate in pongala.

Guinness World Records have certified it as the largest annual gathering of women in the world.

Attukal Pongala Festival has found a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the highest attendance of women on February 23, 1997. 1.5 million women had participated in that year’s Pongala.

So, Friendz.... Get some time and come to Trivandrum and celebarate this Auspicious Fesitval. You will get blessing from Goddess Bhavathy.