Photo #1; Caption: The cover collage with the photo of a ‘Float’ (explained later) and the ‘White Pongal’ just getting ready.
Kerala, the God’s Own Country is very rich in Festivals also - this festival is unique because it’s celebrated only by ladies; men are not allowed to enter to this zone on this day.
Intro:
Attukal = name of a place in Trivandrum, (Kerala, India), where Attukal Bhagavathy (Goddess of Attukal) temple is situated.
Pongala Festival = is a 10-day annual festival and the ‘Pongala’ (“Pongala” means “to boil over”) celebration is on the ninth day (known as “Pooram day”). This ‘Ladies Only’ festival is a cooking event filled with a lot of devotion and dedication. This year, the festival was on 25th February.
Photo #2; Caption: The devotees in queue, preparing the Pongala (Source: Wiki)
The significance is the victory of ‘Good over Evil’.
The Main ritual - Pongala:
On this auspicious day, believers from all over the world, assemble over/near Attukal in millions (almost covering the total capital city), from early morning (many gather from the previous evening itself). Towards noon, they cook different dishes as the ‘Nivedyam’ (libation) to the Goddess. The main offering (Pongala) is the porridge made of rice (Sharkara Pongal), jaggery, coconut gratings, nuts and raisins; the other offerings are Mandaputtu, Therali, Vella Pongal, etc.
Photo #3; Caption: The “Mandaputtu” and the “Jaggery Pongal” prepared at home, kept in front of the prayer room.
The temple priest lights the first fire around 10:30 in the morning; in the same way, after cooking, the priests from the temple sprinkle holy water on the cooked food at the conclusion of the ritual (say around 2:30 pm). Later, the cooked food is distributed and consumed as ‘Prasad’ (devotional offering). Right from the lighting of the fire, cooking and storing are done with utmost devotion and care.
Photo #4; Caption: The Goddess of Attukal (Attukal Bhagavathy) - (source: Wiki).
Many devotees perform this as an annual owing whereas a few others do this against the favours received (or for getting favours) from the deity. Devotees have to bring their bricks and prepare the fire-place; usually, the preparation is done in a ‘Mud Pot’ though, metal vessels are also used when Pongala is prepared at home. As respect to the ritual, the devotees stand in the hot sun and prepare the Pongala!
Photo #5; Caption: A devotee preparing the Pongala in front of their home; the white Pongala is just ready and the Pongala is submitted at home.
Guinness World Record: In 2009, the festival was celebrated by 2.5 million attendees and the Guinness Recorded that as the largest congregation of women at a time in a single place.
Photo #6; Caption: This festival has many events and one is a show with different ‘Floats’ which are mostly prepared with tender coconut leaves, other leaves and decorative items.
I read a report stating that this year, there were international devotees from six different countries who attended this ritual.
I request my friends, @TusharSuradkar @ShailendraOjha @Rohan10 @YOHANREDDY @RaviSharma111 @PattyBlack @renata1 @Anannya_19 @Mo_TravelleerX @Gurukrishnapriya to kindly give your feedback, please - thanks in advance!
it’s very famous MAA bhawani temple in Thiruvananthapuram Area.
