ATTUKAL PONGALA

One of the most important festivals of Kerala is the Attukal Pongala Festival in Trivandrum . It is the annual festival of Attukal Bhagavathy temple also known as the Sabarimala of women. The temple, where the Attukal Pongala Festival in Trivandrum takes place is located at a distance of 2 kilometers from the city of Trivandrum. This is one such festival of Trivandrum where only women are allowed to take part.

Attukal Pongala Festival in Trivandrum is observed for 9 consecutive days during the months of February and March. The annual celebration of Attukal Pongala Festival in Trivandrum is observed on Bharani day in Kumbhom.

Pongala is the main offering of Attukal Pongala Festival in Trivandrum. The offering is a type of payasam (sweet Indian dessert), and is offered at the Bhagavathy temples. The payasam tastes delicious, which is one of the main delicacies of this festival, cooked with jaggery, coconut kernel, rice, and plantain fruits.

With Thottampattu, which is a song about Bhagavathy, the Attukal Pongala Festival in Trivandrum begins. This song is chanted for 9 days throughout the festivities. On the concluding day of the Attukal Pongala Festival in Trivandrum all the women of the city arrive at the Attukal Bhagavathy temple with their cooking ingredients and ponkala pots.

Cooking starts early in the morning and is suppose to get over by noon. The chief priest, known as melsanthi, goes around the temple with the Devi's sword, showering flowers and sprinkling holy water over the preparation. The idol of the Devi is then carried to Manacaud Sastha Temple in a huge procession. The procession includes caparisoned elephants, decorated thalis, vehicles known as vahanam, and several percussion accompaniments like nagaswaram, band, chenda, and neyyandi melam. The procession would return the next morning.
With numerous Festivals and Events in Trivandrum round the year, offers you to experience the traditional cultures of Trivandrum.