'Attukal Pongal' rituals begin at Thiruvananthapuram's Bhagavathy Temple

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 07, (Fast Mail News):-- 'Aattukal Pongal' rituals began with the performance of 'Aduppu Vettu' at 10.30 am today (Tuesday) at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. On this auspicious occasion, a group of singers first danced to the song 'Thottam Pattu...'. Tantri Thekkedath Parameswaran Vasudevan Bhattathiripad then handed over the lamp to P Kesavan Namboodiri, the head priest in the sanctum sanctorum.

With this he lit 'Thidapalli' with fire. The co-priest then lights the 'Pandara Aduppu', marking the beginning of the Pongal rituals. Pongal Nivedyam will be at 2:30 pm. The temple trust has said that arrangements have been made for 300 priests to give Nivedyam.

The 'Attukal Pongal' festival is counted as the largest religious gathering of women in the world. In Thiruvananthapuram, 'Pongal' made from a mixture of grated coconut, rice and jaggery has been offered to be cooked in earthen or metal pots on brick stoves made on the streets.

Popularly known as the 'Sabarimala of Women', making 'Pongal' is considered a sacred ritual in the annual festival of this temple. Only women take part in it. Police and fire department have made elaborate security arrangements. During this, a ban has been imposed on the passage of heavy and goods vehicles in Thiruvananthapuram city.

In the year 2009, 25 lakh women took part in this festival. Then this event got the distinction of being the world's largest religious gathering. Due to this, 'Attukal Pongal' was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records that year.

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