THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With no deviation from usual pattern, the weather signalled the arrival of a mandatory rain on Wednesday and everything looks to be in place for Attukal Pongala 2025. As part of the security arrangements, more police have been deployed in the temple premises and various parts of the city. Bricks are ubiquitous in every nook and corner while devotees, mostly from other districts, are rummaging to secure spots to offer their Pongala.

The ceremonies will begin at 9.45 am after the Shuddha punyaha. Thottam singers will sing Pandya king's death in Kannaki charitham. It is believed that the devotees celebrate the victory of the goddess through Pongala. When the song ends, Thantri Thekkedath Kuzhikattu Parameswaran Vasudevan Bhattathiripad will light a lamp from the sanctum sanctorum and will hand it over to Melshanthi V Muraleedharan Namboothiri.

At 10.15 am, the chief priest will light the fire in the Pongala hearth in Thidappally and then hand over the lamp to the co-chief priest. Then, the fire will be lit in the 'pandara aduppu,' the main hearth in front of the temple.

With this, fire will be lit in lakhs of Pongala hearths across the city. With the special ritual at 1.15 pm, the world-famous Pongala festival will culminate. An Air Force helicopter will shower petals on the Pongala hearth across the capital city. At 7:30 pm, Kuthiyottam ritual will be conducted in the temple.

The procession of the goddess to the Manacaud Shasta temple will begin at 11 pm. The goddess will be carried to the temple by pachyderm Omallur Kuttishankaran. The boys who took part in the Kuthiyottam ritual will be in the entourage for the procession. There will be an escort of armed police and musical instruments.