THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the flame of devotion in their hearts, lakhs of people offered Pongala to Attukal Amma and offered themselves to the supreme deity. Yesterday, crores of prayers were offered in front of Akhiladeshwari when the whole of Ananthapuri became the shrine of Attukal Amma. It was after a gap of two years due to covid, women came to perform Pongala again in the presence of Amma.

In Thottam Pattu, when the portion where Devi is about to kill the Pandya king was reached, tantri Thekkedath Parameswaran Vasudevan Bhattathiripad lighted the lamp from the shrine and handed it over to melshanthi P Keshavan Namboothiri. He lit the Pongal fire in the temple Thitapalli and then handed over the lamp to saha-melshanthi. It was 10.40 am when saha-melshanthi lit the fire in the Pandara stove near Patupura in front of the temple, after the Pongala at Valiya Thitapalli. The chanting and praises of the goddess became louder. Along with the Chenda Melam, the kathina was burst as a message to the devotees to light the fire in the Pongala stoves. The notification also came through the mic.

Devotees lit the flames in the hearths praising the auspicious Goddess. The atmosphere was filled with praises of her. Lakhs of women who observed the fast dedicated themselves to that holy moment. At 2:30, 300 priests arrived with theertha for the Pongala naivedyam. Devotees went home with warm hearts after the tirtha drops fell on the naivedyam.

There was a shower of flowers during the naivedyam. The temple premises and surrounding areas were full on Monday itself. Kilometers of tributaries of Pongala stoves. Devotees did not concentrate only in the Attukal area but spread out to many areas. Many people performed Pongala in their own homes.

People from outside the state and foreigners came to enjoy the virtues of Pongala. KSRTC operated more services. There were also special train services. Since morning, girls came to the temple with talapoli. Kuthiyottam started at 7.30 pm. Kuthiyottam was performed by 744 boys. At 10.15 Devi came out in procession followed by the Kuthiyottam boys.