America to Ananthapuri: Diana and Sunitha reach Attukal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sunitha was born in Canada. She holds an American passport, yet is vivid in her imagination of Attukal Amma, a divinity that got etched in her mind through her mother Professor Savithrikutty’s prayers. After her mother's death, neighbor Diana Jannet provided her with more legends about Attukal which build curiosity in Sunitha. Ending her long-yearned dream, Sunitha is in the capital with Diana and will do the holy Pongala tomorrow in Amma’s presence.

Professor Savithrikutty was a faculty in the government university college and women's college in the capital. She then flew for another phase of her life in Canada and later settled in California with her family.

“ Mother was very religious and was an admirer of Attukal amma. Initially, the divinity never took me deeply, but after Diana’s stories, I was fully changed and wanted to see Attukal myself” Sunitha says.

Diana is a familiar face to anyone who is an admirer of Attukal amma. She has a doctorate in Attukal Pongala and helped the holy Pongala get into the annals of the world Guinness book of records. This time Diana is in Attukal along with her daughter Jamie.

Diana first came to Attukal in 1994. She was researching women's spirituality when she came to know about Attukal. She made her first Pongala along with women's college former professor Hema and a friend named Mahalakshmi from Chennai.

Over the years, Diana gave many presentations and speeches regarding Attukal in colleges across America. Now she has another mission to leap at— thesis on Kodungalloor temple.