Attukal Festival Beckons: Pongala Ritual on the 25th Marks the Culmination

Devotees eagerly await the commencement of the Attukal Pongala festival, a spiritually significant event, starting tomorrow. The festival arrangements are in their final stages, featuring special arrangements such as a dedicated queue for darshan. Commencing on the 17th with the Kappukettu ceremony at 8 am, the festival will extend until the 27th, with a series of daily rituals.

Every day, except the 23rd, will witness a sequence of rituals, including Abhishekam, Deeparadhana, Usha Pooja, Usha Sreebali, Kalabhabhiskekam, Pantheeradi Pooja, Ucha Pooja, and more, leading up to midnight. The Thottam Pattu presentation, a central function of the festival, will also commence on the 17th.

Art programs will be inaugurated by actress Anushree at 6 pm on the 17th, with the presentation of the Attukal Amba Award to writer George Onakkoor. Notable events include the commencement of fasting for Kuthiyotta boys on the 19th at 9:30 am, Aduppu vettu ritual on the 25th at 10:30 am, and the grand Pongala nivedyam at 2:30 pm.

The festival will feature Chooral kuthu for the Kuthiyotta boys at 7:30 pm and a procession to Manacaud Sastha Kovil at 11 pm on the 25th. On the 26th, upon the procession’s return, the goddess will be taken inside at 8 am, and the Kappu will be removed at 9:45 pm. The grand culmination of the festival will occur with Kuruti Tarpanam at 12:30 pm.