'Divine fulfilment': 2024 Attukal Pongala comes to an end, devotees head back home

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Yet another divine commitment reached its culmination today after the revered Pongala festival came to an end at 2:30 pm after the temple priest performed the Nivedhyam ceremony, which is considered the final ritual of the festival.

Airforce helicopters were also employed for showering flower petals on the devotees. Devotees mostly from other districts and outside the states, visited the divine shrine for one last time before bidding adieu to this year’s festival. They all vowed to return for the festival the next year.

KSRTC has allowed 500 services to help the devotees make their return journey comfortable. The railway has also allotted special services for devotees coming from other states. After the Pongala festival commenced at 10:30 in the morning, devotees dedicated time to preparing dishes such as Therali appam, Manda Puttu and Kadum Payasam.

Police, Fire Force, Health Department and Municipal Corporation were all ready throughout Pongala to make everything auspicious while local organisations and clubs made sure that no one remained hungry amidst the hassles of the festival.