Aattukal Pongala -falls on 3rd march

Submitted by UMAMAHESWARI on Tue, 2006-12-19 20:50. Kerala

_“AATTUKAAL PONGALA” A FESTIVAL CELEBRATED IN THIRUVANANTHAPURAM IS AN ALL WOMEN AFFAIR. THE NAME OF THIS FESTIVAL HAS FIGURED IN THE GUINNES BOOK OF RECORDS, IN THE CATEGORY OF FUNCTIONS IN WHICH MORE THAN TE LAKH PEOPLE PARTICIPATE

It may not be as high profile an affair as Sabarimal’s Makarajyothi or Puri’s rathayatra. But it is an annual festival which all the women folks of Kerala, look forward to with eager and enthusiasm not to speak of their unflinching devotion towards the All Mighty.

FOR, Aattukaal Pongala is the only festival meant exclusively for women. It’s is a name when women transcend the barriers of cast, creed, culture, economic status, and profession converge at the Aattukaal Devi temple in Thiruvananthapuram t offer Pongala to the deity.
Location:
The temple is located 2 km south-east of better known Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple. The deity is believed to be an incarnation of Kannagi. The legend, says that Kannaki after destroying Madurai, left the place for Kodungallur from where she went to Aattukaal and stayed for a brief period. Even she was burning with rage and the locals offered her Pongala to calm her down. The THOTTAM PAATTU, sung during the festival is based on Kannaki Charitham.
The temple was renovated 108 years ago and a temple trust was formed in 1970. A blend of Tamil and Kerala architecture the gopuram depicts the story of Kannaki.

The ten day festival commences on Karthika in the Malayalam month of KUMBHAM, usually in February, with Kaappukettu.

Pongala falls on the ninth day a full moon day. During the festival the temple is illuminated and various cultural programs. Tableaus depicting the legends of Kannaki come in procession accompanied by drums and trumpets.

The Pongala:
The day marks the climax of the festival. An REA OF 8 KM RADIUS ROUND THE TEMPLE will be occupied by women devotees, with their Pongala kalams (pots). On the seventh itself, there will be a scramble to occupy vantage spots as close to the sanctum. There they set up their hearths some women keeping as many as 11, 21, or even 51 hearths. Every inch of the space, including the courtyards of houses, office porticos, and roads, leading to the temple are dotted with women and their hearths.

They bring them every thing they require like rice, jaggery, coconut, new earthen pots, stirrer, bricks, and fire wood. WITH the festival gaining popularity the number of devotees has been steadily increasing. And so also the congestion. But the devotee’s enthusiasm hasn’t lowered any way.
On the Pongala day the chief pest of the temple lights up the ceremonial hearth in the temple at the auspicious hour. The sound of bursting of crackers, and beating of the drums, immediately fill the air. This sit h cue for the waiting devotees, to light up their hearths. Clouds of smoke billow from a sprawling 8 square km. By afternoon the devotees would be ready with the offering. It is prepared by mixing rice flour, jaggery, ghee, grated coconut in boiling water. THE MXTURE is made into small balls; they are wrapped carefully in bay leaves and steamed.

Around 3 pm, the chief priests offer the pongala made in the temple to the deity. More than 150 priests spread out in the field outside the temple to sprinkle the holy water on the cooked Pongala marking a symbolic offering to the Goddess “who never fails the believers.” After the offering the devotees, return in a state of bliss with the knowledge that they had done the Karma(duty), leaving the phala(result) to the discretion of the Aattukaal Devi and wait for the next turn. Tranquility returns to the temple but it is empty feeling that haunts those associated with it.
Other offerings:

Kuththiyottam and Thaalappoli are the offerings performed by boys and girls under 10 during the festival. Te boys wear a wet towel and prostrate 1008 times in seven days during the festival for which they have to stay at the temple.
On the Pongala day, girls carry a plate, with an oil lit lamp, flowers and coconut, accompanied by the family members visit temples.
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