Panchayat/ Municipality/ Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Corporation LOCATION District Thiruvananthapuram Nearest Town/ Landmark/ Junction Attukal Temple Junction – 200 m Central Bus Station, Thampanoor – 3 Km Nearest Bus statio Bus Station, East Fort – 2 Km Nearest Railway Trivandrum Central Railway Station – 3 Km statio ACCESSIBILITY Nearest Airport Trivandrum International Airport – 8 Km AttukalBhagavathy Temple Trust Post Box No. 5805, Manacaud P.O., Thiruvananthapuram-695009 Phone: +91-471-2463130(Office) +91-471-2456456(Temple) CONTACT Email: [email protected] DATES FREQUENCY DURATION TIME February – March(Kumbham) Annual 10 Days ABOUT THE FESTIVAL (Legend/History/Myth) The annual festival is celebrated at the Hindu shrine thronged by an increasing number of devotees every year. Known to be the largest congregation of women in the world, the festival is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Kumbham to invoke and seek the blessings of Goddess Parvati or Attukal Bhagavathy, the presiding deity of the temple. Women prepare offerings on hearths on the Pongala day to please the Goddess symbolising balance of the five elements of nature. Legend has it that the festival is celebrated to commemorate the hospitality that the local children and people extended to the Goddess while at Attukal. There are stories that associate her to Kannagi, the central character of the famous Tamil epic ‘Silapathikaram.’ Kannagi is said to have stopped over at Attukal for a short while after avenging the unjust death of her husband. Kannagi is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. The Goddess hence epitomises power, courage and destruction of evil even as devotees look up to her as the Supreme Mother. The Attukal Pongala brings together women from all walks of life and different parts of the world. The Pongala also symbolises human harmony with the five elements that form the life force -the Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. International RELEVANCE- NO. OF PEOPLE Over 5 Lakh (Local / National / International) PARTICIPATED EVENTS/PROGRAMS DESCRIPTION (How festival is celebrated) The festival is marked by the presence of lakhs of Kappukettu women devotees who seek blessings of the Goddess by Kudiyiruthu taking to hearths to prepare offerings on the Pongala Kuthiyottam Day. The Attukal Pongala is the most important ritual of Pongala the festival and is an offering that coincides with the full Kuruthi Tharpanam Kappu Azhippu moon. Pongala literally means ‘to boil over’. Women Kudiyilakkal observe fast and cook porridges usually made out of a Thalapoli combination of rice, coconut, banana, jaggery, nuts and Music and Dance Events raisins in earthern pots over hearths. The hearths are lit from the fire burnt at the hearth in the temple also known as the ‘Pandara Aduppu’ and also from hearths at other temples. As the offering boils over the pot, prayers for well-being are made to the Goddess. Musical renditions praising the Goddess marks the beginning of the festival. Kuthiyottam is a distinct ritual performed by boys under the age of 13 years after observing rigorous penance for 7 days. Thalapoli is a ceremonial procession towards the end of the festival by young girls who carry a plate or ‘thalam’ filled with rice, flowers, a lighted lamp etc. It is believed that these girls dressed in colourful attires are blessed by the Goddess with happiness, health and beauty and attract prosperity to the community at large. .