The ‘Attukal Pongala Festival,’ which holds the Guinness World Record for the ‘largest gathering of women for a religious festival,’ will be held next month. Ahead of the fest, which is held at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, 30 wards in Thiruvananthapuram have been declared as the ‘festival zone.’ The event will be held strictly adhering to the green protocol. The ten-day fest begins on March 5 with the Kappuketti kudiyiruthal ritual at 10 am. Meanwhile, the offerings for the kuthiyottam ritual for boys will be held at 7 pm. The aduppuvettu ritual starts at 10.15 am on March 13, which would be the main festival day. This will be followed by nivedyam at 1.15 pm and purathezhunnalethu rituals at 11.15 pm. The kappazhikkal ritual is at 10 pm on March 14. The annual festival ends with the kuruthi tharpanam. Banners and flexes for anything related to the fest can be installed only after securing prior permission from concerned authorities. The Enchakkal flyover, which was closed for maintenance, will be opened during the fest. Minister V Shivankutty said that he has written to the government to declare a holiday in the district on March 13.

Instructions for devotees and others
1) District collector Anu Kumari requested the devotees to refrain from setting up stoves near petrol pumps.
2) City police commissioner Thomson Jose informed us that more than three thousand policemen would be deployed in two phases for safety and that parking restrictions would be imposed at various spots in the city.
3) The sale of alcohol has been banned within the corporation limits and in the Vellar ward at Venganoor panchayat from 6 pm on March 12 until 6 pm on March 13 (Pongala day).
4) The ritualistic flower shower of Pongala from helicopters, which is generally held after the pongala preparation, has been cancelled as the runway construction works in Thiruvananthapuram airport will continue until March 29. Subcollector OV Alfred has been appointed as the nodal officer to oversee the Attukal Pongala festival.