Attukal Pongala: Difference between revisions
Attukal Pongala, 7, March, Tuesday / ചൊവ്വാഴ്ച |
Attukal Pongala deity: Sri Bhadrakali Amman |
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'''Attukal Pongala''' is a 10-day religious festival celebrated at the [[Attukal Temple|Attukal Bhagavathy Temple]] in [[Thiruvananthapuram]] in the Indian state of [[Kerala]]. On the ninth day there is a huge gathering of millions of women on the temple surroundings. These women prepare a divine food made of rice in earthen pots and offer it to the Attukal Amma (Goddess of the Temple). The pongala preparation starts with the ritual called 'Aduppuvettu'. This is the lighting of the pongala hearth (called Pandarayaduppu) placed inside the temple by the chief priest. This is the earliest Pongala festival in Kerala. |
'''Attukal Pongala''' is a 10-day religious festival celebrated at the [[Attukal Temple|Attukal Bhagavathy Temple]] in [[Thiruvananthapuram]] in the Indian state of [[Kerala]]. On the ninth day there is a huge gathering of millions of women on the temple surroundings. These women prepare a divine food made of rice in earthen pots and offer it to the Attukal Amma (Goddess of the Temple). The pongala preparation starts with the ritual called 'Aduppuvettu'. This is the lighting of the pongala hearth (called Pandarayaduppu) placed inside the temple by the chief priest. This is the earliest Pongala festival in Kerala. |
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The festival is marked as the largest annual gathering of women by the Guinness World Records. |
The festival is marked as the largest annual gathering of women by the Guinness World Records. The ceremony was set up in Guinness Book of World Records on February 23, 1997, when 1.5 million women participated in Pongala.<ref name="hindu">{{cite news|title=Ponkala makes it to Guinness|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/ponkala-makes-it-to-guinness/article3061478.ece|agency=The Hindu|date=2012-03-15}}</ref> In 2009, a new Guinness World Records celebrated 2.5 million attendance.<ref name="Guinness">{{cite web|title=Largest gathering of women|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-annual-gathering-of-women|website=Guinness World Records|publisher=Guinness World Records}}</ref> This temple is also known as the ''[[Sabarimala]] for women''.<ref name="newkerala">{{cite web|last1=Ponmelil|first1=V. A.|title=Temples of Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram Attukal Temple|url=https://temples.newkerala.com/index.php?news=Temples-of--Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram-Attukal-Temple|website=newkerala.com}}</ref> |
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[[File:Sri Bhadrakali Amman Temple 01.jpg|thumb|180px|Sri [[Bhadrakali]] Amman is the main deity of Attukal Pongala, worshipped in her various forms.]] |
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==Rituals== |
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On the signal of the main priest of the Attukal Bhagavathy temple, women light the ritual fires for preparation of sweet customary rice, on prefixed auspicious time, in earthen pots. The entire temple area and its roads are filled with women preparing the customary rice on small hearths in neat rows, which is a wonderful sight and sweet smells emanate the air, spiritually strengthening people's homes. The ceremony is initiated on the auspicious day of Pooram star which coincides with full moon or [[Purnima]]. All these rituals occur amidst the beautiful musical rendering of Goddess (Kannaki Charitam) during the ''Kappukettu'' ceremony. The main significance is victory of good over evil. The ceremony is concluded in the evening by an aerial showering of flowers, and sprinkling of holy waters, by the temple priests, to honor the most benevolent goddess, Sri [[Bhadrakali]] Amman<ref>[http://www.attukal.org/festivals.aspx#:~:text=The%20important%20ritual%20in%20the,of%20the%20temple%20at%20Thidappally%20. Rituals at Attukal Bhagavathy temple][http://www.attukal.org/Default.aspx][http://www.agathiyarjanachithar.in/subcategory/pooram.htm#:~:text=It%20is%20the%20birth%20star,to%20%CE%B4%20and%20%CE%B8%20Leonis.]</ref> |
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Though it is a Hindu festival, many Christian women in Kerala also offers Pongala to the Goddess.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2013/feb/27/attukal-pongala-women-unite-across-caste-creed--religion-454165.amp|title=Attukal Pongala: Women unite across caste, creed & religion|newspaper=New Indian Express|author=Lekshmi Mohan|date=27 February 2013|access-date=26 February 2021}}</ref><ref name="NDTV">{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/40-lakh-women-expected-for-attukal-pongala-festival-1280100?amp=1&akamai-rum=off|title=40 Lakh Women Expected For Attukal Pongala Festival|newspaper=NDTV|date=22 February 2016|access-date=26 February 2021}}</ref> |
Though it is a Hindu festival, many Christian women in Kerala also offers Pongala to the Goddess.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2013/feb/27/attukal-pongala-women-unite-across-caste-creed--religion-454165.amp|title=Attukal Pongala: Women unite across caste, creed & religion|newspaper=New Indian Express|author=Lekshmi Mohan|date=27 February 2013|access-date=26 February 2021}}</ref><ref name="NDTV">{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/40-lakh-women-expected-for-attukal-pongala-festival-1280100?amp=1&akamai-rum=off|title=40 Lakh Women Expected For Attukal Pongala Festival|newspaper=NDTV|date=22 February 2016|access-date=26 February 2021}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 08:14, 6 March 2023
| Aatukaal Ponkala | |
|---|---|
| File:Attukal-pongala-1024x622.jpg Women gathering as part of Attukal pongala | |
| Observed by | Hindus of Southern Kerala and some Christians [1] |
| Type | Religious, cultural |
| Date | per Hindu calendar |
| 2023 date | Tuesday, 7 March[2] |
| Frequency | Annual |
Attukal Pongala is a 10-day religious festival celebrated at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram in the Indian state of Kerala. On the ninth day there is a huge gathering of millions of women on the temple surroundings. These women prepare a divine food made of rice in earthen pots and offer it to the Attukal Amma (Goddess of the Temple). The pongala preparation starts with the ritual called 'Aduppuvettu'. This is the lighting of the pongala hearth (called Pandarayaduppu) placed inside the temple by the chief priest. This is the earliest Pongala festival in Kerala. The festival is marked as the largest annual gathering of women by the Guinness World Records. The ceremony was set up in Guinness Book of World Records on February 23, 1997, when 1.5 million women participated in Pongala.[3] In 2009, a new Guinness World Records celebrated 2.5 million attendance.[4] This temple is also known as the Sabarimala for women.[5]
Rituals
On the signal of the main priest of the Attukal Bhagavathy temple, women light the ritual fires for preparation of sweet customary rice, on prefixed auspicious time, in earthen pots. The entire temple area and its roads are filled with women preparing the customary rice on small hearths in neat rows, which is a wonderful sight and sweet smells emanate the air, spiritually strengthening people's homes. The ceremony is initiated on the auspicious day of Pooram star which coincides with full moon or Purnima. All these rituals occur amidst the beautiful musical rendering of Goddess (Kannaki Charitam) during the Kappukettu ceremony. The main significance is victory of good over evil. The ceremony is concluded in the evening by an aerial showering of flowers, and sprinkling of holy waters, by the temple priests, to honor the most benevolent goddess, Sri Bhadrakali Amman[6] Though it is a Hindu festival, many Christian women in Kerala also offers Pongala to the Goddess.[7][1]
The Attukal Pongala was held on March 9, 2020.[8] The Attukal Pongala event started at 10.20 am and ends at 2.10 pm with the traditional Nivedyam. Thousands of women participated despite the high alert from the state government against large gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] The next Attukal Pongala will be held on March 7, 2023.
References
- ^ a b "40 Lakh Women Expected For Attukal Pongala Festival". NDTV. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ Attukal Pongala, Tuesday / ചൊവ്വാഴ്ച
- ^ "Ponkala makes it to Guinness". The Hindu. 15 March 2012.
- ^ "Largest gathering of women". Guinness World Records. Guinness World Records.
- ^ Ponmelil, V. A. "Temples of Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram Attukal Temple". newkerala.com.
- ^ Rituals at Attukal Bhagavathy temple[1][2]
- ^ Lekshmi Mohan (27 February 2013). "Attukal Pongala: Women unite across caste, creed & religion". New Indian Express. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ a b Rajwi, Tiki (9 March 2020). "Thousands of women flock to Thiruvananthapuram for Attukal Pongala today". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
External link
Media related to Attukal Pongala at Wikimedia Commons
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