The evening rush

Photos taken at 5PM today

The roads are over flowing, like rivers to the ocean of divinity of Attukal Amma; Attukal Pongala is here, and it is time for the divine celebration

Attukal pongala 2011; the morning scenes

From the road to Attukal temple

From the parking ground at Attukal

The scene in front of Sastha temple, Manacaud

A short break

Attukal pongala 2011; the morning rush

Attukal Pongala 2011; from the temple premises

To Attukal temple

Scene from the temple premises in the early morning

The morning rush at the Attukal temple today

The Attukal temple witnessed a heavy rush right from the early morning today as women continued to flow in for Attukal pongala from different parts of the State. Hundreds of women have occupied their places in the temple premises for setting up the aduppu (oven); they are the early birds flown from distant parts to offer the sacred ritual they have been waiting for. True, it's a celebration of womanhood.

Women flowing to Attukal

Women are flowing to Attukal, every road that stretch to the temple is filled with women with their bag and baggage, coming from distant places to offer pongala to Attukal Amma. The influx of the crowd had started from yesterday evening; and it has now become a steady flow, like a river flowing towards the sea.

Theruvilakku

Theruvilakku procession at night

Tradition versus modernity

Baskets old and new: a scene from the street

Life in times of pongala

Attukal Pongala is a big festival which can only be compared with the Kumbh Mela or Sabarimala pilgrimage. The Pongala festival is also a time that gives earning for the poor. The most benefitted are women who finds some odd businesses to make money. The temple festivals in general works at the micro economic level, withering happiness for the poor and needy.  

Pongala times

Women buying earthern pots for pongala; this is a common scene in the East Fort-Attukal road stretch, where pot vendors have lined both sides of the road.

From the temple festival

Scenes from kuthiyottam namaskaram

Kuthiyottam vratham begins

The bath in the temple pond

After the bath

For namaskaram

Before Attukal Amma

Kudiyiruthu

All set for kudiyiruthu ceremony

Attukal temple festival begins

Attukal temple festival began today with the traditional kappukettu and kudiyiruthu at 10.AM. The temple witnessed a great crowd to witness the traditional rituals. Old women took their places in front of the pachapandal at early morning itself , to hear the thottampattu; every where you will witness a solemn gaiety of the festival and the celebration of the upcoming pongala. 

Pot city

At last the potters and pot vendors have arrived. Earthern pots are one of the main attractions of the Attukal pongala festival; the pots that are heaped on either side of the main road leading to Attukal temple is a beautiful sight. Most of these potters come from the adjacent Kanyakumari district of Tamilnadu. You will wonder whether these people would sell all these pots; they will. Of course they are in a huge number; heaps and heaps of pots,  baked and earth smelling, they look like red pumpkins with their curved bottoms up. It is simple arithmetics, for the thirty lakh women coming for the pongala, you need heaps and heaps of pots; and thats why they are here!. Usually the vendors reach the city, one week ahead of Attukal pongala, this time too they are punctual; Thiruvanathapuram is now a pot city!

After the darshan

Devotees coming out of the temple after darshan

Pongala festival and livelihood

A gooseberry seller in front of the temple

Garlands for sale, an usual scene

The pattu vendor

Scenes from the temple premises

The rush for morning darshan

Devotees coming to the Attukal temple

Back to home

The festival is here

The crowd in front of the Attukal temple today

The long queue in front of the temple

This is the first Sunday before the kodiyettam of the annual pongala festival, and it is natural that the temple premises witness a great influx of devotees. In every face you will witness a sublime happiness that their beloved diety has showered as her blessings. Its happiness around. Of course the temple and its premises is in a festive mood.All the people who gather here have smiles on their faces, an eternal bliss forms the halo of their divine submission. The festival starts on 11 February with the kappukettu ceremony.

The Nadapandal

The Nadapandal in front of the Attukal Temple

Pongala defines ideal community

Pongala is not a crowd of bhaktas as you percieve; pongala creates a community bound by love and mutual trust. Its varied colours are united on a common objective of bhakti. Here you could see people from different walks of life, regions, caste and status coming together to become part of a community to submit to Attukalamma. There is no hatred, no disobedience, no non-cooperation, but only submission. The feeling and craving for coming together in Pongala defines the ideal community.