Thiruvananthapuram to host Attukal Pongala today

In Kerala, the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram is all prepared to host the Attaukal Ponkala festival which is considered as one of the world's largest religious gathering of women on a single day. Today lakhs of women will prepare 'Pongala'- the offering in makeshift brick stoves to worship the presiding deity of Attukal Bhagavathy temple.

The women, who reached Thiruvananthapuram from all over the state and outside, will prepare 'pongala' which is mix of rice, jaggery and scraped coconut for about two hours in fresh earthen or metal pots by lining up on either side of the roads around the



shrine.

The ritual begins at 10.15 AM when chief priest lights the main hearth near the shrine signalling the start of the annual ritual, while the sanctification ceremony will be held at 2.20 PM.