Flower merchants presentation
Annadhanam preparation
Another area (Annadhanam)
Getting ready for pongala
Inside a private compound(thrown open for the devotees)
Side lane
Main road.count down starts for 10.15 am. 3..2..1..start
Fire being transfered from one to another
Transfered to hearths
Trivandrum as a yaga sala filled with smoke under the hot sun
Pongala started.
Under preparation
Annadhanam in progress
As usual, the yearly celebrated Attukal ponkala is being offered to the Goddess Attukal Amma, known as the incarnation of Kannagi of Chilappathikaram today at 10.15 am. The legend records that Kannaki after burning Madurai reached here and asked a devotee to built a temple here by the side of a river known as Karamana river. Every year in this auspicious timing, devotees offer pongala (offering).Year after year the devotees increase multi fold and now reaches lakhs and lakhs. This is offered by women devotees under the burning hot sun .This culmination of women devotees called as "women's Sabarimala". (In Sabarimala men offer the prayers and lakhs of men's presence is taken for comparision for women in Attukal).This pongala got entry in to the Gunnies book of records because of its uniqueness.
During this pongala devotees from different parts of Kerala and Tamilnadu participate. Different associations offer free food to all. Pongala offereing was made around 10 km radius from the Attukal temple. The offerrings are made by assembling three burned bricks (hearth) and in earthern vessels. After pongala ,blessing will be given by sprinkling Holy water on the offering by the priests,today by 2.30pm.
You can image the waste generated from these lakhs of pongalas. Thiruvananthapuram corporation had made elaborate arrangements to remove the garbages within hours and clean the roads and the sub lanes. Locals too clean their places. This effort had helped to contain dust pollution.
A few images about today's pongala from Power House area which is around 3 km away from the Temple.
Hope to give similar posting in the coming years with the blessings of Attukal Amma.
Attukal Amme Saranam!
Sprinkling of Holy Water
Self cleaning the area by devotees themselves.
