THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Pongala will be offered today for the blessings of Attukaldevi, in the courtyards of temple and home premises across the state. Women devotees were waiting for this day with a purified mind since 'Kappukettu'. At 10.50 am, a fire will be lit in Pandara stove in Attukaldevi's thirunada and fires will be spread to the stoves in houses.

Last year, Pongala event was not held due to the pandemic. Even on that day, devotees offered Pongala in their homes with devotion.

The rituals begin when the chief priest thantri Parameswaran Vasudevan Bhattathiripad of the Attukal Bhagavathi Temple lights the makeshift stove with fire brought from the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.The fire is then passed on to the stoves of the women who line up to cook their offering using rice, jaggery and coconut. And there will be fireworks.

The ceremony can also be viewed live on social media. The Pongala offering will be at 1.20 pm earlier than usual. At that moment, as usual, a helicopter would flew around the city and rains flowers. At this time, devotees can sprinkle flowers and water on the offering to the Goddess.