Thiruvananthapuram Transformed into a Vast Sea of Devotion for Attukal Pongala
The state capital of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, was transformed into an expansive sea of hearths on Tuesday as thousands of women devotees converged for the annual Attukal Pongala festival. Every available open space, from streets to temple precincts, became a site of deep spiritual fervor, with the ritual stretching up to Mannanthala, nearly 10 kilometers from the Attukal Bhagavathy temple.
Preparation and Ritual Commencement
Devotees from across Kerala and other parts of India arrived a day in advance, occupying strategic locations to prepare for the sacred offering. The ceremony began at 9:45 AM, with chief priest Parameswaran Bhattathirippad initiating the rituals. Melsanthi Aneesh Namboothiri carried the sacred flame from the sanctum sanctorum to the ‘pandara aduppu’ in the temple courtyard, from where it was distributed across the city to light thousands of makeshift hearths.
The air was filled with the aroma of burning firewood and sweet pongala, accompanied by echoing chants and prayers. Women devotees, equipped with bricks, firewood, and earthen or metal pots, meticulously prepared the traditional offering of rice, jaggery, and coconut.
Logistics and Participation
Approximately 380 priests were engaged in the ritual, with nearly 300 deployed across various locations to sprinkle holy water and maintain the sanctity of the offerings. The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple Trust reported that this year witnessed the largest turnout since the pandemic years, highlighting a resurgence in participation.
The ritual concluded at 2:15 PM with the nivedyam to the deity. However, many devotees were unable to have darshan afterward as the temple remained closed between 3:10 PM and 7 PM due to a lunar eclipse.
Prominent Attendees and Secular Ethos
Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar attended the event, with his family offering pongala in front of Lok Bhavan. Leader of opposition V D Satheesan’s sister and daughter participated near Cantonment House. Both leaders praised the festival’s secular ethos, describing it as “the real Kerala story.”
Several notable personalities, including Padmaja Venugopal, Deepa Das Munshi, Deepthy Mary Varghese, Shobhana George, and R Sreelekha, along with film and television actors, took part in the festivities. Political figures such as Devaswom minister V N Vasavan, general education minister V Sivankutty, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MLA V K Prasanth, mayor V V Rajesh, deputy mayor G S Ashanath, P K Krishna Das, and K Muraleedharan were also present at the temple.
Arrangements and Culmination
Mayor V V Rajesh noted that the event concluded smoothly, attributing success to effective coordination among various agencies. Extensive arrangements ensured adequate drinking water, medical aid, and transport facilities for the massive crowd.
- KSRTC operated 500 special buses to facilitate travel.
- Railways introduced special Memu trains exclusively for women devotees.
- Many devotees from other states returned soon after the ritual.
In a rare spectacle, a helicopter arranged by the corporation showered flower petals on devotees, marking the culmination of the ceremony. The Kuthiyottam ritual was held in the evening, with the festival set to conclude on Wednesday.
This grand display of devotion not only reinforced cultural traditions but also showcased Kerala’s ability to host large-scale events with seamless logistics and communal harmony.
