Pongala on March 3rd; Attukal festival begins Kappukettal ceremony; Mohanlal inaugurates cultural programs

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Musical instruments and Goddess mantras rang out. The packed devotees chanted the Goddess' praises with folded hands. Ritual fireworks rang out. The Pongala festival at the Attukal Bhagavathy temple began auspiciously with the tying of a sacred bangle (kappu) on the deity's idol in a devotional atmosphere. Thottampattu also began in the green pavilion outside.

The Kappukettal ceremony was held at 5.30 pm today, the Karthika star in the Kumbha month. Pongala is on the 3rd, the Makam day. The temple Thantri Thekkedath Parameswaran Vasudevan Bhattathiripad tied one of the Kappu made of Panchaloha to the goddess's sword and the other to the hand of Melshanthi Aneesh Namboothiri. The Nediyavilakam family members, who perform the song and pooja on the first day, brought the Kappu prepared with the purity of fasting and the thread to tie it to the temple. The Tantri performed the ceremony after sprinkling the Kaapu with holy water and purifying it.

The chief priest will remain in the temple until the festival is over. The Melshanthi will accompany the procession when Bhagavathy is taken out to the Manakad Sastakshetra on March 3rd after the Pongala. The Kappu will be removed the next day, after the procession reaches the temple. The festival will conclude with the Kuruti Tharpanam.

Actor Mohanlal inaugurated the cultural programs at 8 pm. Mohanlal received the trust's Attukal Amba award at the event. There was a huge rush to visit the temple from early morning. Devotees who attended the Deeparadhana and also participated in the Annadanam. At night, the procession of lamps from various places started reaching the temple.