Lakhs offer Pongala, scale heights of devotion

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Lakhs steeped in devotion to Attukal Bhagavathy, the deity in Attukal temple, made pongala offerings on Sunday.

The Pongala nivediyam was performed at 2:30 pm and with that the curtains came down on this year’s pongala festival. As many as 1000 priests were deployed to perform the nivedyam. During the nivedyam, an airplane strewed flower petals all over the temple premises and surrounding areas.

At 10:30 in the morning, the tantri lit fire from the lamp kept in front of the deity. The main priest of the temple received this fire and lit the small hearth inside Tidappalli. The assistant priest then took a burning splinter from the hearth to lit the main hearth (pandara aduppu) in front of the temple, marking the beginning of the world famous pongala festival.

The fire from this main hearth was spread from hearth to hearth, thus covering the whole radius where pongala hearths burnt, in an hours’ time.    

The city virtually overflowed with devotees, who had set up hearths at their convenience even kilometres away from the temple. Braving scorching sun, they offered Pongola to their beloved goddess. Payasam, Therali, modakam, aravana, madapputtu, and vatsan were the delicious edible items offered to the Goddess.  

Thalappoli, Kutthiyottam and procession of floats will happen in the night extending to past midnight. Thousands from distant places are staying back to view these festive events and get one more darshan of Attukal Amma. 

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