Getting ready for the fire

Pongala scenes

Tea break

Thalappoli

Preparing therali

Its Attukal Pongala

From Manacaud Sastha temple, at 6 AM

Its Pongala, and see the excitement

Pongala eve

Manacaud junction at 8.30 PM

Night bites!

Everywhere it is celebration, celebrating the eve of Pongala. The night is more brighter today; today you dont need a moon; the smiles and cheers here are enough to light up the whole earth. Pongala eve has become more memorable with hundreds of people around, sharing and caring each other's thoughts and feelings. Its life in its cross section.

Shopping in between

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.