Thiruvananthapuram to host world famous Attukal Pongala on Sunday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Several lakhs of women will offer the Attukal Pongala tomorrow. The ceremonies will begin after the Shuddha Punyah (ritualistic cleansing) at 10 am. At the time, Thottampattu singers will sing the part describing the killing of the Pandya king in Kannakeecharitam. It is believed that the devotees celebrate the victory of 'Devi' through Pongala. At the end of the song, the Tantri Parameswaran Vasudevan Bhattathiripad will light a lamp from sanctum sanctorum and give it to Melsanthi Goshala Vishnuvasudevan Namboothiri. At 10.30 a.m., the lamp will be handed over to junior priest after lighting it in the Pongala fireplace at small kitchen inside the temple. Later, the fire will be lit in the largr kitchen and the 'pandara aduppu' in front of the temple.Then the fire will be lit in earthen stoves around the city and temple premises. Pongala will be complete after the 'ucha puja' at 2.30 p.m. The air force helicopter will shower flowers from the sky during the ceremony.

At 7.30 pm, Kuthiyottam ceremony will be held and at 11 pm, the procession of the goddess to Manacaud Shastha Temple will begin. The deity's idol will be carried by the famous tusker Thrikadavur Sivarajan. The boys offering Kuthiyottam will accompany the procession. The procession will be accompanied by armed police and musical ensembles.