Attukal Temple

Infobox Mandir


caption=
creator =
proper_name = Attukal Bhagavathy Temple
date_built =
primary_deity = Kannagi
architecture =
location = Attukal, Thiruvananthapuram
coordinates = coord|8.47|76.96|display=inline,title

Attukal temple (Malayalam: _ml. ആറ്റുകാല്‍ ഭഗവതി ക്ഷേത്രം) is a shrine in Kerala, India. The temple has gained international attention since it was listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as "the largest gathering of women in the world". The record was based on the number of pilgrims on 23 February 1997, when 1.5 million assembled to offer "pongala" to Attukal Devi. [cite news |url= http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/15/stories/2006101514620900.htm |title= Ponkala makes it to Guinness |publisher= The Hindu |date= 2006-10-15 |accessdate= 2008-08-14]

History

The Goddess Kannaki (Parvathi) is the main deity in this temple. It is believed that Kannaki came to Attukal from Madurai.Fact|date=August 2008

Pongala Festival

"Attukal Pongala" is the main festival of this temple. Millions of women gather every year in the month of Kumbham around this temple and prepare "Pongala" (rice cooked with jaggery, ghee, coconut as well as other ingredients) in the open in small pots to please the Goddess Kannaki. During the festival nearly five kilometres around the temple become covered with smoke from the 'aduppu's (temporary hearths made of 3 to 9 bricks). A holiday is declared in the city on that day. Tourists from other countries also participate in the "Attukal Pongala".

Other Festivals

The other festivals in this temple are:

# Mandala Vratham - Festival in connection with the annual Utsavam of Sabarimala
# Vinayaka Chathurthi - Pooja to the Lord Ganapathy
# Pooja Vaypu - Identical to Dussera festival (Saraswathy Pooja and Vidyarambham)
# Sivarathri - Siva Pooja
# Karthika - Karthika Deepa
# Ayilya Pooja - Milk, flowers etc. offered to serpent God and special rites
# Aiswarya Pooia - On all full moon (Pournami) days
# Nirayum Puthariyum (Ramayana Parayanam) - During the month of Karkadakam
# Akhandanama Japam - 4th Sunday of every month

ee also

* Kannagi

References