Cutting across age barriers, thousands of women took part in the famous "Attukal Pongala," one of the largest religious congregations of women, here Wednesday.
Preparing 'pongala' (sweet offering) is considered an auspicious all-women ritual as part of the annual festival of the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple here, which is popularly known as the "Women's Sabarimala".
Braving scorching heat and humid climate, women from various parts of Kerala and outside the state converged in grounds and both sides of the highways, roads and bylines across the city and prepared 'pongala', a mix of rice, jaggery and scraped coconut in fresh earthen or metal pots to please the Goddess.
With makeshift brick stoves, placed on both sides of the roads, and hymns of the goddess chanted by devotees, the state capital appeared to have turned into a 'yaga sala'.
The festivities began at 10.20 am after chief priest, N Vishnu Namboothiri lit the 'pandara aduppu', the main hearth at the shrine.
Following this, women devotees lit their brick stoves and prepared the offering with prayers.
Besides 'pongala', many devotees also prepare several other offerings like 'therali', 'mandaputtu' and 'palpayasam.'
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