Several women were camping on the temple premises since Tuesday night to ensure a spot for making the offering. File photoThiruvananthapuram: The Kerala capital is breathing the air of piety as lakhs of women take part in the annual Pongala offering at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple on Friday.
The ritual, hailed to be the largest religious gathering of women on a single day, marks the culmination of the annual festival of the temple that began on February 23.
This time, the ritual takes place amid a controversy triggered by senior police officer Sreelekha in her blog which accused child abuse in the temple in the name of a ritual called 'Kuthiyottam', which involves body piercing of thousands of young boys.
Pongala ritual
The pongala will start with the lighting of the earthen hearths at 10.15 am. Sanctification of the pongala will be held at 2.30 pm. Several women were camping on the temple premises since Tuesday night to ensure a spot for making the offering.
Large number of police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel and the officers of different government departments have been deployed in the festival area to serve the devotees. Police have deployed 4,200 personnel in the city. Drone surveillance, women commando wing and CCTV surveillance are among the arrangements made by the police.
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