Thiruvananthapuram: The capital city is immersed in devotion as women from across the state gather in large numbers to offer Pongala to Attukal Amma on Thursday.  

At 1.15 pm priests sprinkled sanctified water on the Pongala offering arranged along the city roads. Devotees expressed their reverence before the Goddess, surrendering their hearts with numerous offerings, including payasam and water.

The ritual began at 10.15 am with the lighting of the ‘Pandara Aduppu’—the main hearth used for preparing Pongala—on the temple premises. In the presence of Tantri Parameswaran Vasudevan Bhattathirippadu, Melshanthi V Muraleedharan Namboothiri then transferred the lamp from the sanctum sanctorum to the Pongala hearth at the temple precincts.

Pongala hearths are set up within a 10-kilometre radius around the temple. The rituals began at 9.45 am with the sanctification ceremony. The temple trust officials confirmed that all arrangements had been completed. Strict traffic regulations are in place ahead of the festival. The offering, made in earthen pots, consists of rice, ghee, banana, jaggery, and coconut.

At 7.45 pm, children participating in Kuthiyottam will perform the traditional ritual act. Later, at 11.15 pm, the awakening ceremony for the deity will take place at the Dharmashasta Temple in Manacaud.

On Friday at 5.00 am, following the pooja at the Shasta Temple, a return awakening ceremony will be held. Then, at 10.00 pm, the deity will be carried in a procession, and finally, at 1.00 am, the entire Pongala festival will conclude with the performance of the 'Kuruthi Tharppanam' (a ritual).

Legend behind the festival
The Attukal Pongala is celebrated on the ninth day of the 10-day annual festival at the Attukal Bhagavathy temple. The shrine is devoted to Kannaki, the heroine of Ilangovadikal's Tamil epic Silappadikaram. As per the legend, she cursed the city of Madurai and its kings for wrongfully convicting her husband to death.

While returning after the same, she stopped at Attukal and her rage was subdued. Believers say that pongala is conducted to celebrate Kannaki's victory over the Madurai kings.