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Millions Unite for Kerala's Sacred Pongala Ritual
3 Mar
Summary
- Attukal Pongala 2026 celebrated today at Attukal Bhagavathy Temple.
- Over 2.5 million women participated, marking a historic gathering.
- The festival honors Goddess Attukal Bhagavathy, a symbol of feminine power.
The revered Attukal Pongala festival is being celebrated today, March 3, at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. This significant Hindu event is renowned for being one of the world's largest religious gatherings of women, with over 2.5 million participants in 2009 alone. The festival pays homage to Goddess Attukal Bhagavathy, an incarnation of Goddess Kannaki, symbolizing feminine strength and piety.
Central to the celebration is the preparation of a sacred sweet offering, 'pongala,' by women using rice, jaggery, and coconut in earthen pots. These are cooked on makeshift hearths set up around the temple, transforming the city streets into a sacred communal kitchen. The festival marks the conclusion of a 10-day ritual at the shrine.
Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar highlighted the Attukal Pongala as a defining symbol of Kerala's rich cultural and spiritual heritage. Thiruvananthapuram is experiencing immense crowds, necessitating extensive arrangements for devotees' safety, medical needs, and sanitation, alongside adjustments in railway and traffic schedules for the massive influx.
