Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, popularly described as ‘Sabarimala of the Women’, is one of the ancient temples of South India.
‘Pongala Mahotsavam‘ (Ponagala festival), a 10-day religious festival that commences in the Malayalam month of Makaram-Kumbham (Feb – March), is the most important festival of Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. ‘Kappukettu ceremony’ marks the start of the annual festival at the temple which occurs amidst the beautiful musical rendering of Goddess (Kannaki Charitam) signifying the victory of good over evil.
The Pongala ceremony is initiated on the ninth day of the festival, on the auspicious day of Pooram star which coincides with full moon or the Purnima. On this day millions of women gather on the temple surroundings and prepare the divine food made of rice in earthen pots and offer it to the Attukal Amma (Goddess Bhadrakali of Attukal Temple).
The pongala preparation starts with the ritual called ‘Aduppuvettu’. This is the lighting of the pongala hearth (called Pandarayaduppu) by the chief priest, on a prefixed auspicious time. Once the ‘Pandarayaduppu’ is lit, the fire from the Pandarayaduppu is passed on to the women gathered around the temple premises. They then light the ritual fires on their temporary brick hearths for preparation of sweet customary rice in earthen pots.
The entire temple area would be filled with women preparing the customary rice on small hearths in neat rows, which is a wonderful sight to be seen. Houses of people of all caste, creed and religion, open fields, roads, commercial institutions, premises of Government offices etc. around temple premises becomes a sacred ground for observing Pongala rituals for lakhs of women devotees assembling from different parts of Kerala and outside.
The ceremony which has now extended to the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram city is exclusively confined to women folk who gathers in and around Thiruvananthapuram on this auspicious day. The ceremony is concluded in the evening by an aerial showering of flowers, and sprinkling of holy waters, by the temple priests, to honor the most benevolent ‘Attukal Amma’.
Throughout the festival an atmosphere of celebration and festivity prevails in and around the temple premises. Bhajans, musical concerts, classical and folk dance and other arts forms are performed during the festival. Processions of colourful floats of the deity from all around, carried with pomp and devotion by the devotees gathering in the temple premises is a beautiful sight to watch.
Attukal Pongala is marked as the largest annual gathering of women by the Guinness World Records.
Story of Attukal Temple
The Attukal Bhagavathy (Goddess in the temple of Attukal) is worshipped as the Supreme Mother, creator of all living beings and the mighty preserver as well as destroyer of them all. Attukal Bhagavathy is believed to be the divinised form of Kannaki, the famous heroine of ‘Cilappatikāram’ (the Tale of an Anklet) written by Ilango Adigal (a Tamil poet). The story says that after she destroys the ancient city of Madurai, Kannaki, who is believed to be the incarnation of Goddess Parvathy (the consort of Lord Siva), left the city and reached Kerala via Kanyakumari and on the way to Kodungalloor took a short stopover at Attukal. The architectural depictions of Goddess Kannaki seen on the Gopuram temple substantiate this mythology. The hymns of the ‘Thottampattu’ sung during the annual temple festival, are based on the story of Kannaki.
Rituals observed during Pongala Mahotsavam
Kuthiyottam
Kuthiyottam is a ritual observed by boys below the age of 12 years who represent the soldiers of the Goddess Mahishasura Marddini. This ritual is observed as an offering to the divine power and hence the boys undergo rigorous physical and mental discipline such as sleeping in mat, observing strict diet restrictions, staying in the temple etc. Kuthiyottam is performed by boys with the hope that the Goddess almighty would be pleased to bestow on them health, prosperity and happiness.
Thalappoli
Thalappoli is a ritual performed by young girls below 12 years of age. The girls dress themselves in beautiful traditional attires and hold ‘Thalappoli’ (a tray with lighted lamp and flowers) to please the Goddess.
Vilakkukettu
One of the most spectacular sights of the festival is the ‘Vilakkukettu’, in which beautifully decorated structures bearing idols and pictures of the Goddess are carried on the heads of the devotees. Accompanied by ‘Chendamelam’, they move towards the temple from different parts of the city during every night of the festival.
The final Divine Procession
After the Pongala, a divine procession of Attukal Bhagavathy, starting from Attukal temple to the Sastha Temple at Manacaud takes place and after the necessary pooja ceremonies performed there, the entourage returns to Attukal the next day. Thereafter, the deity is received back in the sanctum with Deeparadhana (Aarti).
After Deeparadhana, rendering of devotional songs takes place which is followed by the ceremonial removal of the “Kappu”. The ten day festival culminates with the sacrificial offering known as ‘Kuruthi Tharpanam’ at night.
The temple authorities make all necessary arrangements for the welfare of this huge congregation with the active participation of the voluntary agencies, local people, members of the festival committee and the various government departments. During every Pongala Festival season, a Pongala Mahotsavam Committee with various Sub Committees are formed for the smooth conducting of the Pongala Festival. They ensure law and order in the area with the support of the police and the volunteers specially detailed for the purpose.
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