Attukal Pongala 2019 | Attukal Bhagavathy Amman Temple Trivandrum

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Attukal Pongala 2019 Attukal Bhagavathy Amman Temple Trivandrum

Attukal Bhagavathy Amman Temple is situated in Thiruvananthapuram, which is also popularly called as the Sabarimala of Women (or Women’s Sabarimala). The Pongala is the most important Festival of this Temple. This year, the ten day festival of Attukal Pongala 2019 will begin on February 12th and will conclude on February 21st. The Pongala Festval will be held on the 9th day of the festival on 20th February.

Attukal Pongala 2019 Mahotsavam – 9th day

ആറ്റുകാല്‍ പൊങ്കാല 2019The world famous Pongala Mahotsavam will be held on 20th February, 2019. On this day, at the area of about 10 kms radius, millions of women from all caste and creed, perform the Pongala ritual. In 2009, This festival has been entered in the Guiness Book of World Records as the largest congregation of women in the world for a festival. Pongala is a ritual in which women prepare a sweet Dish (rice pudding) or known as Payasam made of rice, jaggery, coconut, plantain etc in a clay pot and offer it to Goddess Bhagavathy of the Attukal Temple, affectionately called as “Attukalamma” . The Pongala is done on the sides of streets, roads, bus stands, platforms, and every where were space is available and the entire Trivandrum city celebrates this function and it is a holiday. This festival is exclusively for women devotees only.

Kuthiyottam and Thalappoli

Kuthiyottam is a ritual performed by boys below the age of 12 years. The fasting (Viratham) for Kuthoyottam will start from 14th February. They do seven days penance to purify their body and mind. They should undergo rigorous disciplines like sleep in the floor of the Temple, follow strict diet, etc.

Girl upto the age of 10 years can attend the Thalappoli ritual.

Inauguration of Stage Programmes

On February 12th at 6.30pm, the stage programmes will be inaugurated the the Malayalam film star Mr. Mammootty.
This year, the Amba Puraskaram will be presented to PadmaShree Dr M R Rajagopal, Chairman of Pallium India.

The security has been tightened by the Police officers and around 3500 police officers would provide the security. Also CCTV has been installed around the Temple region.

References:
1. https://www.keralatourism.org/event/attukal-pongala-festival/30
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attukal
3. http://www.keralaculture.org/kerala-festivals/attukal-pongala/4/2
4. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/indian-festival-all-women