Attukal Pongal

The event in which women gathered at the temple named Attukal Bhagavathy is called Attukal Pongal. This Pongal festival is celebrated on the 7th of March every year in Bhagavathy temple. The women light the fire named Pandara Aduppu and offer Puja to him for blessings of the Goddess. On this festival, God is not worshipped as it is a women’s festival, and all women offer worship to Goddess. 

Celebrations on Attukal Pongal

The women make brick hearths before the start of this event for placing on the roads. As the day begins, all the handmade brick hearths are placed on the streets and the path of the temple. Temple walls are also decorated with brick hearths, and Attukal food is cooked, consisting of a mixture of various food products in which rice and jaggery are included. As the day worship ends, Attukal food is given to the fasting person for breakfast. 

Bhagavathy idols worship on Attukal Pongal.

Bhagavathy is the top Goddess of Hindus after Parwati and Earth. On this Pongal festival, people move to the Bhagavathy temple to offer worship to him in the form of a Puja. Only women are the lover of Bhagavathy as it is considered their favorite Goddess, and this is the Goddess who blesses them most. Women apply red Mehndi on the hands of Bhagavathy idols for her blessings. Bhagavathy Manters are also recited while presenting Puja to her. Women also bathe in Ganga to get holy to worship Bhagavathy and Shiva on this festival day.