Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s capital is turning into a vast congregation as lakhs of women devotees assemble at the premises and along the roads leading to the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple to offer Pongala to Attukalamma, marking one of the largest gatherings of women for a religious ritual in the world.

The city is witnessing unprecedented crowds as devotees prepare the sacred Pongala offering, seeking blessings during the annual temple festival. Office-bearers of the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple Trust said elaborate arrangements have been put in place in coordination with multiple government departments to ensure the smooth conduct of the ritual.

Pongala ritual timings

The ceremonies will begin at 9.15 am on Tuesday with an auspicious puja, coinciding with the Pooram and Pournami day of the Malayalam month of Kumbham. The Pongala lighting ceremony is scheduled for 9.45 am.

As part of the ritual sequence, 'Thottam Pattu' ( sacred invocative songs) singers will render the episode from 'Kannaki Charitham' depicting the death of the Pandya king.

Following this, Melshanthi Aneesh Namboothiri, in the presence of Thantri Parameswaran Bhattathiripad, will transfer the sacred flame from the temple shrine to the Pongala fire at the 'Thidappally' (traditional kitchen of the temple).

The flame will then be carried to the large 'Thidappally' and the 'Pandara Adupp' (hearth) prepared in front of the temple. The sounding of chenda melam and fireworks will signal devotees across the city to light their individual stoves. Within minutes, large parts of Thiruvananthapuram will glow with thousands of hearths as women prepare the ritual offering.

Nivedyam, lunar eclipse and temple closure

After the midday puja, 'Pongala Nivedyam' will be offered at 2.15 pm, with 350 priests appointed for the ceremony. 'Deeparadhana' will be conducted during 'Nivedyam'. Following this are the 'Usha Shribali' (pooja at dawn) and 'Ucha Shribali' (pooja at noon) rituals.

As Tuesday coincides with a lunar eclipse, temple authorities announced that the shrine will remain closed from 3.10 pm to 7 pm, and darshan will not be permitted during that period. Girls participating in the Thalapoli ritual have been advised to complete darshan before 1.30 pm.

Also read| Heading to Attukal Pongala 2026? Know these key railway changes in Thiruvananthapuram

Kuthiyottam and Festival finale

The Kuthiyottam, a ritualistic symbolic representation of 'Manushya Bali' (Human Sacrifice), will be held at 8.30 pm, with 581 boys participating this year. The ceremonial procession is scheduled for 10.45 pm, accompanied by traditional percussion ensembles and an armed police escort.

The last ritual will be 'Kappu Azhikkal' (removing the sacred thread on the deity's wrist) ceremony at 9.45 pm on March 4. The 2026 Attukal Pongala festival will conclude with the Guruthi (tantric, ritualistic offering in Kerala temples) ritual at 12.45 am.