THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the fire lit in the pandara aduppu (the main hearth), it is the start of this year’s Attukal Pongala. This time too pongala is held only in the main hearth of the temple. The devotees are offering pongala at their houses.

The pongala is offered adhering to Covid norms. Many including Minister Sivankutty and mayor Arya Rajendran had reached the temple premises. The nivedyam (sanctification) of the pongala is at 1.20 pm earlier than usual. As usual a helicopter would fly around the city at that moment and drop flowers. The devotees can sprinkle water and flowers on the offering to Attukal Devi.

Pongala is offered on the day pooram star of Kumba month and pournami joins together. The sub melsanthi of the temple T K Easwaran Namboodiri said that anyone can offer pongala anywhere after cleaning the inside and outside of your houses.