Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram was enveloped in smoke on Thursday as a veritable sea of women made their offerings to goddess Attukal Baghavathy. 

Considered the biggest congregation of women in the world — the Guinness Book records it so — the annual Attukal Pongala festival brought to Thiruvananthapuram’s streets women not just from all over Kerala or the neighbouring States but even from foreign shores

Fire in the belly and soul, they set up millions of hearths to offer Pongala — rice cooked in small pots in the open with jiggery, ghee, grated coconut and other ingredients.

The Attukal temple is located less than 2 km of the famous Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The Attukal Temple Trust had estimated that 40 lakh devotees would take part this year.

But invariably this number is exceeded and the lines of the devout snake through Thiruvananthapuram city and into the suburbs.

Women fill main roads, byroads and lanes on all sides of the temple for up to 10 km.

Many devotes even occupy the vast temple premises days in advance, setting up their hearths.

The Pongala hearths also reach the facade of the hallowed Sree Padmanabha temple. For slots on this stretch, one has to be an early bird; after all, it is a double delight of paying obeisance both to the goddess and the Lord Padmanabhaswamy.

The auspicious time for lighting the fire is fixed well in advance but many just take the cue from the temple priests, who also make the Pongala offering. This is announced through the public address system.

The Pongala ingredients must come to a boil which is when the devotees believe their offering has been accepted by the Goddess.

The Kerala government and the Thiruvananthapuram city Corporation do an excellent job of handling the massive logistical challenge associated with the sheer size and scale of the event. Volunteers, community associations, and individual households cutting across religion, caste and creed also pitch in to take care of devotee requirements — food, medical and other supplies.

An estimated 5,000-strong posse of police and security men, including a large contingent of women personnel, had been commandeered this time. No major security breaches are usually reported in the all-women festival.

Challenging phase

But the most challenging phase comes towards the end of the day when devotees head home after braving the hot sun and all the heat and smoke from the hearths.

But, as is the case every year, near-flawless arrangements and special trains and buses are arranged.

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