Attukal Pongala

In news– Attukal Pongala, considered one of the largest women’s gatherings in the world, around 15 lakh women participated in the festival.

About the festival-

It is a 10-day religious festival celebrated at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
On the ninth day there is a huge gathering of millions of women on the temple surroundings.
These women prepare a divine food made of rice in earthen pots and offer it to the Attukal Amma (Goddess of the Temple).
The pongala preparation starts with the ritual called ‘Aduppuvettu’. This is the lighting of the pongala hearth (called Pandara Aduppu) placed inside the temple by the chief priest. This is the earliest Pongala festival in Kerala.
The festival is marked as the largest annual gathering of women by the Guinness World Records. In 2009, a new Guinness World Records celebrated 2.5 million attendance.
Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is also known as “women’s Sabarimala” and is famous for its Pongala festival.

Attukal Bhagavathy temple-

The deity worshipped in the temple is Kannagi, an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva’s consort.
As we know from the Tamil poem Silappathikaram (the Epic of the Anklet by Ilango), Kannagi’s husband Kovalan was sentenced to death by the Madurai king for reportedly stealing the queen’s anklet.
After proving the innocence of her husband, Kannagi leaves Madurai and heads to the Kodungalloor temple.
On the way, she stops at Attukal and her incarnation is said to be Attukalamma, the Goddess in the temple.
Attukal is where her rage was said to have subsided and Attukalamma became compassionate and helpful towards those who worshipped her.
Devotees believe that she hears their prayers and vows and alleviates their pain. The celebration of Attukal Pongala is said to bring happiness and prosperity to the family.

Note:

Silappathikaram or Silappatikaram is the earliest Tamil epic. It is a poem of 5,730 lines in almost entirely akaval meter. The epic is a tragic love story of an ordinary couple, Kannaki and her husband Kovalan.
It was written in the 5th–6th century AD by Prince Ilanko Adikal (Ilango Adigal).
The Silappathikaram has more ancient roots in the Tamil bardic tradition, as Kannaki and other characters of the story are mentioned or alluded to in the Sangam literature such as in the Naṟṟiṇai and later texts such as the Kovalam Katai.