Preparations for pongala in full swing

The morning was misty and the air was still cold, I witnessed a great rush to make offerings to Attukal Amma. The festival orginisers are busy with decorating the temple. Now the temple adorns a new look with the specially made electric illuminations. The various government wings have also started their work like cleaning the drainages, repairing the pipes, re-tarring the roads, around three square kilometres around the temple. These measures are necessary to ensure better health and sanitary conditions so as to accomodate lakhs of women who arrive to give pongala offerings. The Trivandrum City Corporation and the Health departments are also very much cautious of the situation, particularly in the wake of the recent dengue fever outbreak. Along with these the local people are also giving their whole-hearted support for making Attukal pongala 2009, a great event.