'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.

Related Art & Culture News

New National Manuscripts Mission established

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Culture established the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) in 2003 during the 10th Five Year Plan to document, conserve, and promote access to Indian manuscripts. The scheme was evaluated by a committee of experts, which recommended its continuation with broader ....

National Mission on Cultural Mapping set up

NEW DELHI: National Mission on Cultural Mapping has been set up by Ministry of Culture, Government of India with an aim to identify and document India’s cultural heritage and its creative potential to regenerate and revitalize rural economies, thereby making Village India self-reliant. (....

SpaceX launches 24 Starlink internet satellites into orbit

SpaceX, a US private space company, launched 24 Starlink satellites into orbit. A Falcon 9 rocket launched 24 Starlink satellites on Thursday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in the southeastern State of Florida, the SpaceX said on X.

46 die, including 37 children in Bihar during 'Well-Being' festival

At least 46 people including 37 children drowned while taking holy bath in rivers and ponds in separate incidents during Jivitputrika Vrat festival in Bihar,the officials said. These incidents took place in 15 districts of the state during the festival on Wednesday. According to a statement is....

Famous Ganesh Puja Celebration Grips Talcher Coal City

TALCHER:The Ganesh Puja festive fever grips Talcher Coal city when thousands of people from in and outside district are thronging since yesterday. This year there are almost 80 Ganesh idols are being worshipped right from Handidhuan chhak to the end of the Talcher town.The entire c....