Attukal Pongala: The Great Festival of women

Aattukal is a place in the vicinity of Trivandrum city. Here in the ancient Bagavathy temple women celebrate Attukal pongala. It is a ten day long festival which starts on the Bharani day (karthika star) of the Malayalam month of Makaram-Kumbham (Feb-march). This will come to an end with the sacrificial offering known as ’Kuruthitharpanam’ at night. Aattukal Pongala mahotsavam takes place on the ninth day which is the most important day of the festival. Women from all over Kerala and Tamilnadu gather up in the surroundings of the temple to make offerings for the Goddess by cooking Pongala.

The Myth
It is believed that Goddess Attukalamma is the incarnation of Kannaki, the heroine of ‘Silappathikaram’ written by Tamil poet Ilango in second century AD. It is at Aattukal that the Goddess took rest on her northward journey from Madurai to Kodungallur.

Pongala consists of porridge of rice, sweet, brown molasses, coconut gratings, nuts and raisins. Thottam paattu a song about Bhagavathy will be sung continuously for nine days of the festival. The festival commences with the musical rendering of the story of the Goddess (Kannaki Charitam) during the "Kappukettu" ceremony. The story invokes the presence of Kodungallur Bhagavathy and the killing of the Pandyan King. The song will continue for all the nine days preceding Ponkala. The event of the Goddess distroying the Pandyan King is accompanied by much sound and wrath of the temple drums and "Vaykurava" by devotees, immediately followed by the lighting of the fireside for the preparation of the offering for the Goddess On the ninth day thousands of women gather in the temple with all set up for cooking Pongala. This will begin in the morning and by noon Pongala would be ready. Then the chief priest of the temple comes with the sword of Devi and blesses the ladies by sprinkling holy water and showering flowers. The blessed pongala will be taken by the believers to their home.
Aattukal pongala has found place in the Guinness book of records as the biggest women’s gathering in the world. In 2007, Pongala held on 3rd March have witnessed 2.5 million devotees.

Boys performs Kuthiyottam and girls, Thalapoli. Tese are the other charms of the festival. Young girls dressed in a traditional way hold thalapoli and starts early in the mornig with the belief that Goddess will shower blessings on them with beauty, wealth and happiness. Boys who are under 13 years make the offering of Kuthiyottam. The boys represent the wounded soldiers of the Goddess Mahishasura Mardhini. On the third day the temple priest gives Prasadam and boys start a seven day penance to purify their mind and body. For this they will go through rigorous physical and mental disciplines such as sleeping on the floor, eating under restricted diet, staying in the temple etc.

Taking Devi with procession
The diety is taken from Aattukal to the Sastha Temple at Manacaud , with divine procession. The procession is very colorful with floats, decorations etc. All through the road will reflect festive look. The Devi will be carried on caparisoned elephant displaying Alavattom and Venchamaram. Devotees will stand crowded on either side of the road welcoming the Devi. The procession reaches Sastha temple in the early hours of morning. There will be some poojas conducted here and the procession returns to Aattukal. Here the diety is received back in the sanctum with Deeparadhana. After the Deeparadhana the boys are relieved from the penance in an orderly manner.At night devotional songs will be rendered and is followed by ceremonial of the Kappu.
Through out the period of festival the whole of Trivandrum city in a festive mood. The surrounding places of Attukal will be occupied by small merchants, selling sweets, fancy items, toys etc.

Author: Adersh.BM