Attukal Pongala Celebration in Kerala state.
I remembered my Keralite friend by name Bhindu Panicker, who use to describe the festivities of Kerala in detail. One such was Attukal Bhagavathy Temple Mahostavam in Kerala. The festival is all about the union of women near the Attukkal temple and cooking Pongala and offering it to the Goddess.
The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Trivandrum, Kerala, celebrates the world famous Attukal Pongala every year in the Month of Kumbham-March or February. (Malayalam months are named after Hindu zodiac signs called Rasi). It is estimated that more than two million women participate in this Hindu ritual called ‘pongala.’ It is like annual gathering of women from Kerala and surrounding to offer Pongala to the Goddess. Attukal is the name of the temple. The 'Pongala' is Pongal or Pongali comprises preparing ‘prasad’ for the deity. Women cook rice and jaggery in earthen pots and they offer it to the goddess. They also cook different type of sweet dishes – called ‘mandaputtu,’ ‘appam,’ ‘therali’ made out of rice powder, jaggery and coconut. Coconut tree fronds are used to cook the ‘prasad.’
In Sanskrit Mesham means Sheep, and the word used in for Sheep in Malayalam is Aadu. Again, Sankramanam in Sanskrit means in getting unified or amalgamation or mixing. So is the dish Pongal which is an amalgamation of rice and Toor dal cooked together called Sankramanam. Aadu Pongal has become Attukal Pongala.
This year 3.5 million women took part in the Attukal Pongala festival, seeking Attukal Devi's blessings, making it the greatest celebration of womanhood in the whole planet. This has also entered the Guinness Book of World Record in 1997. This is a ten day festivity celebration this year Attukal Pongala 2012 Festival began on 28th February 2012 and concluded on 8th March 2012. The Attukal Pongala day was on 7th March 2012. It is like Sabarimala for women folk.
Attukal Bhagavathy is regarded as the incarnation of Goddess Kannaki, the divine heroine of ‘Silappadhikaram’ written by Tamil Poet Illango in the 2nd century AD. Silappatikaram is one of the five great epics of Tamil Literature. It is believed that Goddess Kannagi took a rest here on her journey northward from Madurai to Kodungallur. Devotees refer Attukal Pongala festival as the Kumbh Mela Festival of South India.
Similar such offerings is made for Goddess in different parts of India as a sign of Thanksgiving. One such is Bonalu in Hyderabad and Secunderbad held annually in the Month of Aashada.
I only see it as a women hood and women power. Such congregation or gathering are held after the Sun enters Uttarayana. It is when, winter moves and Summer is welcomed. Onset of Summer would bring in its own climate changes and once summer is moving and it is rainy-it has its own role and toll. So, in order to please the Goddess is to seek protection for all of us from any natural, unnatural calamities.
The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Trivandrum, Kerala, celebrates the world famous Attukal Pongala every year in the Month of Kumbham-March or February. (Malayalam months are named after Hindu zodiac signs called Rasi). It is estimated that more than two million women participate in this Hindu ritual called ‘pongala.’ It is like annual gathering of women from Kerala and surrounding to offer Pongala to the Goddess. Attukal is the name of the temple. The 'Pongala' is Pongal or Pongali comprises preparing ‘prasad’ for the deity. Women cook rice and jaggery in earthen pots and they offer it to the goddess. They also cook different type of sweet dishes – called ‘mandaputtu,’ ‘appam,’ ‘therali’ made out of rice powder, jaggery and coconut. Coconut tree fronds are used to cook the ‘prasad.’
In Sanskrit Mesham means Sheep, and the word used in for Sheep in Malayalam is Aadu. Again, Sankramanam in Sanskrit means in getting unified or amalgamation or mixing. So is the dish Pongal which is an amalgamation of rice and Toor dal cooked together called Sankramanam. Aadu Pongal has become Attukal Pongala.
This year 3.5 million women took part in the Attukal Pongala festival, seeking Attukal Devi's blessings, making it the greatest celebration of womanhood in the whole planet. This has also entered the Guinness Book of World Record in 1997. This is a ten day festivity celebration this year Attukal Pongala 2012 Festival began on 28th February 2012 and concluded on 8th March 2012. The Attukal Pongala day was on 7th March 2012. It is like Sabarimala for women folk.
Attukal Bhagavathy is regarded as the incarnation of Goddess Kannaki, the divine heroine of ‘Silappadhikaram’ written by Tamil Poet Illango in the 2nd century AD. Silappatikaram is one of the five great epics of Tamil Literature. It is believed that Goddess Kannagi took a rest here on her journey northward from Madurai to Kodungallur. Devotees refer Attukal Pongala festival as the Kumbh Mela Festival of South India.
Similar such offerings is made for Goddess in different parts of India as a sign of Thanksgiving. One such is Bonalu in Hyderabad and Secunderbad held annually in the Month of Aashada.
I only see it as a women hood and women power. Such congregation or gathering are held after the Sun enters Uttarayana. It is when, winter moves and Summer is welcomed. Onset of Summer would bring in its own climate changes and once summer is moving and it is rainy-it has its own role and toll. So, in order to please the Goddess is to seek protection for all of us from any natural, unnatural calamities.
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