Celebration of womanhood

Pongala pots lined every nook and corner of Thiruvananthapuram city, and it was a celebration of womenhood, transforming the metropolis to a large kitchen.

Pongala's psychology

Women wait for the official announcement to light the fire

Pongala gathers millions every year. It is the greatest gathering of women on earth who come to ward of their agonies offering pongala to Attukal Bhagavati. In modern terms it can be called a mass psychological counselling session. Pongala is a purgation of emotion and a catharsis takes place, leaving the mind calm and clean.

Millions offer Attukal Pongala

Millions of women offered Attukal Pongala as a tribute to Attukal Bhagavati. Pongala explores the inner chemistry of the body, mind and soul recharging the devotee with a sublime happiness, purifies the mind and make her spiritually and mentally equipped to face the challenges of the future.

Festival colours

Vendors from neighbouring states and districts reach Attukal Pongala with their colourful items to attract children and women. A display by a vendor from Tamil Nadu

City green

The sweet smelling vayana leaves for making therali appam, for sale at road side

Pot pouri

Idol display

Display of idols is part of pongala activity.

An idol of Lord Siva at Manacaud junction

Plastic revolution

Plastic has replaced the traditional bamboo and vazhutha (coconut leaf stem peels) for weaving baskets. Although plastic is cheap, it does not have a fascination for most of the women who come to offer pongala. The poor women who sell the traditional baskets have to pay more for the traditional raw materials and get only a small profit.

Life in times of Pongala

A woman vendor with her baskets and pots

The baskets on display at the roadside

An old woman weaving traditional baskets for pongala.

Pongala is also an economic event as it triggers the micro economy

Morning smile

Of women, flowers and offerrings

Rush in front of the temple

Pongala times

Finding a place

Getting the bricks

The pots have lined

In the morning sun

Lining up for the darshan

Bhaktisarasam

An old woman chanting her prayers

amidst the heavy rush in the morning

The heavy rush

The rush will increase steadily sealing entire compound by noon.

This photograph was taken at 8 o'clock in the morning

Everything for Attukal Devi

Women have thronged the temple premises, from early morning today.

Scenes from the temple compound

Tea break

Women drinking the morning cup of tea.

Scene from the temple premises on the eve of Pongala

Of Balloons and Barbies

A balloon vendor at the temple premises