Attukal Pongala 2020 Attukal Bhagavathy Amman Temple Trivandrum
The ten day festival of Attukal Pongala 2020 will commence on March 1st.
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 2020 will commence on March 1st and will conclude on March 10th. The Pongala Festival will be held on the 9th day of the festival on 9th March.
Attukal Pongala 2020 Mahotsavam – 9th day
The world famous Pongala Mahotsavam will be held on 9th March. 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 Guinness 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 3rd March. 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.
Festival Programmes Schedule*
| Day 1 : March 1, 2020 (Sunday) |
| 9.30 AM : Kappukettu & Kudiyiruthu |
| Day 3 : March 3, 2020 (Tuesday) |
| 9.00 AM : Vratham started by the boys participating in the Kuthiyottam Offering |
| Day 9 : March 9, 2020 (Monday) |
| 10.20 AM : Lighting of the Pongala Hearths 02.10 PM : Sanctification of Pongala 07.30 PM : Kuthiyottam Chooralkuthu 10.30 PM : Commencement of Procession |
| Day 10 : March 10, 2020 (Tuesday) |
| 9.20 PM : Kappu Azhippu & Kudiyilakkal 12.30 AM : Kuruthi Tharppanam (Sacrificial Offering) |
* Source: attukal.org/pongala20/images/english%20matter5.jpg
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.
* Official Website of Attukal Bhagavathy Temple Trust: http://www.attukal.org/
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
