Attukal Pongala Festival about to take place on 17th February 2024 – Complete Details
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Introduction to Attukal Pongala Festival UPSC
Welcome to PreCrack! Recently, Attukal Pongala festival was in news because this festival is about to take place in 17th February 2024 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala with Kappukettu rituals. Knowing this festival is important because this festival has a great significance on Indian culture or we also can say that, this festival reflects the Indian culture.
This festival will be organizing in the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple and temple authority is estimating that more than 10s of thousands people will come for this Attukal Pongala festival.
Now you have got that why this festival is too important. Knowing about this festival is also help us to prepare for UPSC current affairs. If you are also preparing for major competitive exams in India, then this blog will help you all around.
So, let’s start-
Read Also – What is Medaram Jatara Festival?
Why Attukal Pongala festival in news? – UPSC Current Affairs
The Attukal Pongala festival is in the news as it is scheduled to begin on February 17 in Thiruvananthapuram. The festival draws attention due to its cultural and religious significance, being one of the largest gatherings of women for a religious purpose globally.
Hectic preparations by the temple trust, government departments, and the city corporation are underway to accommodate the tens of thousands of devotees expected to participate. The Pongala ritual, a highlight of the festival, is set for February 25.
Additionally, authorities are implementing measures such as road resurfacing and streetlight replacements to ensure a smooth and safe celebration.
Source – The Hindu
What is Attukal Pongala festival?
Attukal Pongala is an annual festival celebrated at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. It holds the distinction of being one of the largest gatherings of women for a religious purpose globally.
The festival, typically held in the Malayalam month of Kumbham (February-March), centers around the worship of the goddess Attukal Bhagavathy, considered a form of the supreme mother, Parvati. During the Pongala ritual, millions of women devotees gather to cook a special sweet dish called Pongala in small pots using firewood.
The uniqueness and scale of the event have earned it recognition, with the Guinness World Records acknowledging it as the largest annual gathering of women.
What happens in Attukal Pongala festival
During the Attukal Pongala festival, millions of women gather at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, to participate in a unique and elaborate ritual. The main event of the festival is the Pongala ritual, where women cook a special sweet dish called “Pongala” in small pots using firewood.
The Pongala is made from ingredients like rice, jaggery, coconut, and other traditional items. The women line up along the streets, alleys, and open spaces surrounding the temple, creating a sea of devotees engaging in simultaneous cooking. This communal offering is considered a symbolic gesture of devotion to the goddess Attukal Bhagavathy.
The festival also includes various cultural events, processions, and religious ceremonies over a span of 10 days.
How is Attukal Pongala festival celebrated?
Attukal Pongala festival usually celebratd this way-
- Kappukettu Ritual: The festival usually begins with the Kappukettu ritual at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple.
- Preparations: Devotees, mainly women, start arriving in the city in large numbers a few days before the main Pongala day. They clean and prepare the surroundings for the ritual.
- Pongala Ritual: The main highlight is the Pongala ritual, where millions of women gather around the temple and cook Pongala, a sweet dish, in small pots. This cooking is done on makeshift hearths using firewood.
- Devotional Activities: Devotees engage in various devotional activities, including singing hymns, reciting prayers, and participating in religious ceremonies.
- Cultural Events: The festival often includes cultural events, processions, and performances that add a festive and celebratory atmosphere.
- Offerings and Prayers: Devotees offer prayers and make offerings to the goddess Attukal Bhagavathy seeking blessings for their well-being and prosperity.
- Green Protocol: There are guidelines to maintain environmental consciousness during the festival, encouraging the use of steel utensils instead of plastic and promoting eco-friendly practices.
Rituals in Attukal Pongala Festival
These are the rituals of Attukal Pongala Festival –
- Initiation by Priest: The main priest of Attukal Bhagavathy Temple signals the start of the festival.
- Ritual Fires: Women light fires on the signal to prepare sweet rice in earthen pots.
- Neat Rows of Cooking: Women fill the temple area and roads, creating neat rows of hearths to cook the rice.
- Auspicious Day: The ritual takes place on the day of Pooram star, coinciding with the full moon.
- Symbolism: The ceremony symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
- Musical Renditions: Beautiful music (Kannaki Charitam) plays during the Kappukettu ceremony.
- Conclusion Ceremony: The festival concludes with an evening ceremony, including an aerial shower of flowers and sprinkling of holy waters by temple priests.
Significance of Attukal Pongala festival – Importance of Attukal Pongala festival
These are the key significance of Attukal Pongala festival-
- Cultural and Religious Importance: Attukal Pongala is culturally and religiously significant, dedicated to the worship of Goddess Attukal Bhagavathy, symbolizing devotion and spirituality.
- Largest Gathering of Women: The festival holds the Guinness World Record as the largest annual gathering of women for a religious purpose, emphasizing the unity and collective devotion of women.
- Symbolism of Communal Harmony: The central ritual of women cooking Pongala in small pots signifies communal harmony and a shared sense of devotion, fostering a spirit of togetherness.
- Victory of Good Over Evil: The festival’s rituals symbolize the triumph of good over evil, adding a moral and spiritual dimension to the celebration.
- Cultural Richness: Attukal Pongala is not only a religious event but also a cultural celebration, featuring musical renditions, processions, and various cultural activities that enrich the cultural tapestry of the region.
- Empowerment of Women: The active participation of millions of women in the festival reflects a sense of empowerment and showcases the important role of women in preserving and perpetuating cultural and religious traditions.
Why Attukal Pongala festival celebrated?
The Attukal Pongala festival is celebrated in devotion to Goddess Attukal Bhagavathy, considered a form of the supreme mother, Parvati. The festival’s significance is rooted in Hindu mythology, specifically the story of Kannaki, an iconic character from the Tamil epic, “Silappatikaram.”
Epic says that Kannaki, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, lived during the Sangam period in ancient Tamil Nadu. Her husband Kovalan was wrongly accused of theft and unjustly executed by the Pandya king. In her grief and anger, Kannaki burnt down the entire city of Madurai with the fire from her anklet.
Kannaki’s journey took her to Kerala, where she transformed into the benevolent and compassionate Attukal Bhagavathy. The Attukal Pongala festival is a commemoration of Kannaki’s devotion, strength, and her transformative journey into the goddess worshipped at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple.
Devotees participate to seek her blessings, celebrate her victory of justice over injustice, and express their own devotion to the divine feminine energy.
Key points about Attukal Pongala festival
These key points can be considered on the eve of Attukal Pongala festival
- Annual Tradition: Attukal Pongala is an annual festival at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
- Commencement on February 17, 2024: The festival kicks off with the Kappukettu ritual on February 17, followed by the main Pongala ritual on February 25.
- Anticipated Devotees: Hectic preparations are underway for the expected tens of thousands of devotees during the 10-day festival.
- Pongala Ritual Significance: The central ritual involves women cooking a sweet dish, Pongala, in small pots using firewood, symbolizing a communal offering to Goddess Attukal Bhagavathy.
- Participation of Boys in Kuthiyottam: This year, 606 boys have registered for the Kuthiyottam, a significant aspect of the festival.
- Government and Civic Cooperation: Various government departments, the temple trust, and the city corporation collaborate to ensure smooth festival operations.
- Infrastructure Preparations: Roads in the festival zone are being resurfaced, and faulty streetlights are being replaced to enhance safety and convenience.
- Precautionary Measures for Devotees: Devotees are urged not to use certain materials like unbaked bricks, plastic covers, water bottles, disposable paper cups, plates, and are advised against lighting hearths on tiled footpaths.
- Green Protocol Implementation: Organizations offering free items during the festival must adhere to the government’s Green protocol, using steel utensils instead of plastic. They also need to register with local authorities and follow eco-friendly guidelines.
- Review Meetings with Officials: Trust authorities, including President V. Sobha and Secretary K. Sarathkumar, conducted review meetings with ministers, corporation representatives, and law enforcement to assess preparations.
- Leadership Review Meeting: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is expected to lead a review meeting on February 17 to oversee the festival preparations.
- Web Portal Inauguration: Ministers M.B. Rajesh and V. Sivankutty inaugurated a web portal for the registration of organizations offering free items during the festival.
- Health Wing Involvement: The portal is intended to help the Health wing of the civic body enforce the Green protocol.
Key Facts about Attukal Pongala Festival
These are the key facts about this festival
| Aspect | Details |
| Event Commencement | February 17, 2024 |
| Deity to be worshiped | Sri Bhadrakali Amman |
| Main Ritual Date | February 25, 2024 (Pongala ritual on the ninth day of the festival) |
| Location | Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala |
| Anticipated Devotees | Tens of thousands expected during the 10-day festival |
| Central Ritual | Women cooking Pongala, a sweet dish, in small pots using firewood |
| Kuthiyottam Participation | 606 boys have registered for the Kuthiyottam this year |
| Government Cooperation | Collaboration with various government departments, temple trust, and city corporation |
| Infrastructure Preparations | Road resurfacing and replacement of faulty streetlights in the festival zone |
| Precautionary Measures | Devotees urged not to use unbaked bricks, plastic covers, water bottles, and certain practices |
| Green Protocol | Organizations providing free items must use steel utensils, register, and follow eco-friendly guidelines |
| Review Meetings | Trust authorities, ministers, corporation representatives, and law enforcement assess preparations |
| Leadership Review | Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expected to lead a review meeting on February 17, 2024 |
| Web Portal Inauguration | Web portal inaugurated by Ministers M.B. Rajesh and V. Sivankutty for registration of organizations offering free items |
FAQs related to Attukal Pongala festival – Attukal Pongala festival UPSC Questions
Question-1: What is the Attukal Pongala festival?
Answer. Attukal Pongala is an annual festival celebrated at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, dedicated to the worship of Goddess Attukal Bhagavathy.
Question-2: When does the Attukal Pongala festival take place?
Answer. The festival usually begins in the Malayalam month of Kumbham, which falls in February-March. The specific dates can vary each year.
Question-3: Why is Attukal Pongala considered unique?
Answer. It is recognized as the largest annual gathering of women for a religious purpose globally, attracting millions of women devotees.
Question-4: What is the significance of the Pongala ritual?
Answer. The Pongala ritual involves women cooking a special sweet dish called Pongala in small pots using firewood, symbolizing a communal offering to the goddess.
Question-5: Who is Goddess Attukal Bhagavathy, and what is her significance?
Answer. Goddess Attukal Bhagavathy is considered a form of the supreme mother, Parvati. The festival commemorates the goddess’s compassion and the triumph of justice.
Question-6: What is the story behind Attukal Pongala?
Answer. The festival’s roots lie in the story of Kannaki, a character from the Tamil epic “Silappatikaram,” who transformed into Attukal Bhagavathy after seeking justice for her wrongly accused husband.
Question-7: How do devotees participate in the festival?
Answer. Devotees, mainly women, gather around the temple to cook Pongala in small pots, following specific rituals and traditions.
Question-8: Are there any specific guidelines for the festival?
Answer. Yes, there are guidelines, including environmental consciousness (Green protocol), using specific materials during the ritual, and adhering to safety measures.
Question-9: What cultural events are associated with Attukal Pongala?
Answer. The festival includes cultural events, processions, and religious ceremonies that contribute to the cultural richness of the celebration.
Question-10: How can organizations participate and offer free items during the festival?
Answer. Organizations can register through a web portal, adhere to the Green protocol, and display their certificates prominently at distribution points.
