Attukal Bhagavathy Temple Trivandrum Attukal Temple Online Vazhipadu

The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, located at Attukal in Trivandrum is popularly described as Sabarimala of the Women. The Goddess in the temple of Attukal is worshipped as the Supreme Mother, creator, the preserver and the destroyer. The temple is renowned for the Pongala Mahotsavam which is celebrated during February of every year.

The Myth
Attukal Bhagavathy is supposed to be the divinised form of Kannaki of Chilapathikaram, written by Elenkovadikal. The story goes that after the destruction of ancient city of Madurai, Kannaki left the city and reached Kerala via Kanyakumari and on the way to Kodungalloor took a sojourn at Attukal. Kannaki is supposed to be the incarnation of Parvathy, the consort of Paramasiva. The all powerful and benign Attukal Bhagavathy reigns eternally supreme at Attukal and nurses devotees as a mother does her children. Thousands of devotees from far and near flock to the Temple to bend before the Goddess with awe and reverence to prostrate and redress their affliction and agony.


Pongala Mahotsavam
The Pongala Mahotsavam is the most important festival of Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. The offering of Pongala is a special temple practice prevalent in the southern part of Kerala and some parts of Tamilnadu. It is a ten-day programme commencing on the Karthika star of the Malayalam month of Makaram-Kumbham (February-March) and closing with the sacrificial offering known as Kuruthitharpanam at night. On the ninth day of the festival the world famous Attukal Pongala Mahotsavam takes place. The entire area of about 5 kilometre radius around temple with premises of houses of people of all caste, creed and religion, open fields, roads, commercial institutions, premises of Government offices etc. emerges as a consecrated ground for observing Pongala rituals for lakhs of women devotees assembling from different parts of Kerala and outside. The ceremony is exclusively confined to women folk and the enormous crowd, which gathers in Thiruvananthapuram on this auspicious day is reminiscent of the Kumbhamela Festival of North India.


ATTUKAL BHAGAVATHY TEMPLE TRUST
P.B. No. 5805, Manacaud P.O.,
Thiruvananthapuram - 695 009, Kerala, South India.
Phone: +91-471 - 2463130 (Off) 2456456 (Temple)
Fax : +91-471 - 2456457