Attukal Pongala is a famous and deeply spiritual festival held at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy, believed to be a powerful form of Kannaki. The festival usually takes place during February–March in the Malayalam month of Makaram–Kumbham and is renowned for its strong participation by women devotees from across Kerala and beyond.
The main ritual, known as Pongala, involves women cooking a sacred offering made of rice, jaggery, coconut, and ghee in earthen pots over open fires set along streets, courtyards, and public spaces surrounding the temple. At the auspicious moment, temple priests bless the offerings, and the entire city witnesses a remarkable spiritual atmosphere filled with devotion and unity. Due to the massive participation, Attukal Pongala has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest annual gathering of women for a religious event.
Apart from the Pongala ritual, the festival includes cultural programs, traditional music, dance performances, and religious ceremonies. The event highlights themes of faith, womanhood, equality, and collective strength. Attukal Pongala is not just a religious festival but a powerful symbol of devotion, social harmony, and Kerala’s rich spiritual heritage.