Attukal temple festival 2010

The board in the Attukal temple premises

announcing Attukal temple festival 2010

Pongala is near

The huge banner in the Attukal temple premises

announcing Attukal Pongala 2010

Attukal temple gearing up for Pongala festival

Attukal temple is gearing up for the Pongala festival 2010, which falls on 28, February 2010. A morning visit to the temple will give you impressions of the festival, from the glowing faces of the devotees who throng the temple since the dawn. The temple is now witnessing a great flow of devotees specially on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Pongala is near and everybody is longing for the divine ritual.

Attukal Pongala again in Guinness Book

The conglomeration of 25 lakh women devotees for the Attukal Pongala in 2009 has figured in the Guinness Book of World Records. A temple communication said that the Guinness authorities had issued a certificate to this regard recently. The authorities have revised the existing record in the name of the temple for 15 lakh women devotees attending the pongala held in 1997.

The Procession

Attukal Devi arrives at the Sastha Temple Manacaud, in procession

Back home

Women returning home after Pongala

After Pongala

Women wait for the scared springling after Pongala

Lighting the fire

Lighting the fire

Pongala pots ready!

Waiting for the auspicious moment

Pongala photos

Scenes from Attukal temple premise

Women have started flowing to the Attukal Temple premises from the dawn today. Every nook and corner around the temple are filled with women who have come from distant places to offer pongala to Attukal Devi. The celebration has begun

Theruvilakku 2

Theruvilakku procession

Theruvilakku is an offering given to Attukal Devi. Theruvilakku looks like a decorated temple like structure. They are taken on the head by men and dance according to the percussion (usually meyyandimelam) that accompany. Theruvilakku processions that start usually at night end at the Attukal temple.

Kudiyiruthu ceremony video

Attukal Pongala Festival begins

Thousands of devotees thronged the Attukal Devi Temple to witness the Kudiyiruthu ceremony, which marks the beginning of the Attukal Pongala festival; the ceremony was held at 9.30 PM. As men began singing the Thottampattu, at the panthal made in front of the temple, women hailed the divinity with kurava in the traditional way. The festival will end with the famous Attukal Pongala on March 10.