Thiruvananthapuram: Simble Karbanda, a native of Haryana, has arrived in the state capital to experience the religious fervour offered by the ‘Attukal Pongala’ festival for the first time in her life. 

Since Friday, Karbanda has been trying to get the required things for the Pongala offering, including the 'Pandara Aduppu' aka brick hearth. She says she’s astonished by the huge crowd attending the festival.

Excited to celebrate Pongala, she looks at everything, from the pots to the decorations, with joy. She learned about this festival from her husband, Deepak Krishna, a Palayam native. Her father, Karbanda, and son, Ananthukrishna, have joined her in Thiruvananthapuram.