Thousands offer Pongala

ALAPPUZHA: Thousands of devotees took part in the Pongala festival at Chakkulathukavu Sri Bhagavathy temple, Neerettupuram, about 30 km from here, on Wednesday. Almost all roads leading to the temple were packed with devotees who came from different places to offer pongala. The pongala started with the chief priest bringing the torch lit from the sanctum sanctorum to the main hearth (pandara aduppu) set up near the flag mast of the temple in the morning.

The hearths set up by devotees near the temple and along the roads were lit by the fire from the main hearth. Rice and porridge were cooked by the devotees as offering to the deity. Several roads leading to Neerettupuram from places such as Chengannur, Thiruvalla, Kidangara, and Edathua were occupied by devotees to set up hearths. Elaborate security arrangements were made to ensure smooth conduct of the festival.

Only women offer Pongala and the devotees had started pouring in since Tuesday. A regional holiday had been declared by the district administration for offices and educational institutions in Kuttanad, Chengannur and Mavelikara taluks on Wednesday in connection with the festival.

'Ampillai-Pempillai Orumai' in Idukki

THODUPUZHA: Male-female ratio is same (1:1) in Idukki with a magic figure. When the filing of nomination paper ended late night on Thursday, people and administrators were amazed to see the magic figure. The ratio stood on the magic figure 3353:3353.

As many as 6203 persons filed nomination papers for wards, excluding municipalities. Among them 3353 are men candidates and 3353 are women candidates. 5343 persons filed nomination for panchayat election and of that 2637 are men and 2706 are women.

In block panchayat, 629 submitted the nominations and of that 333 are men and 296 are women.
In district panchayt, 130 persons filed nominations and of that 76 are men and 54 are women.