Thousands offer Pongala at Attukal

Thiruvananthapuram: The influx of devotees from across the state to offer Pongala in the city did not affect thoroughfares as much as in past years as the festivities spanned out to a wider area this year. Pongala was offered at areas as far as Mannanthala and hearth lined even banks of bypass until Karikkakom. Like, during the last Pongala, once the hearths were set up, free movement of vehicles, mostly two wheelers and emergency ones, were possible. With various temples and residents' associations arranging facilities in their areas, offering Pongala became a cosy affair.

It also got modernised as in many places bricks were replaced by metal grates under which firewood was burnt. “Bringing or arranging bricks has been the most difficult task once. It also leaves so much of dirt. The grate weighs less than half a kg. So it’s better,” said Rani Prasad, a devotee positioned near AKG centre. The sound pollution has come down slightly as the regular violators in places like Bakery Junction, Althara and Museum have sobered down by reducing the number of speakers.

Over 250 priests sprayed holy water from the temple in a 10-km radius, temple officials said. As per police officials, the inflow and outflow of lakhs of devotees from the city were not an easy affair in spite of wider highways. Traffic jams lasting up to two hours were experienced on Muttathara-Enchakkal section of the bypass. Congestion on newly widened six-lane stretches continued until 4.45 pm even though Pongala ended by 2.15 pm. The processions started at 10.30 pm, and the deity set out of the temple on tusker Pambadi Rajan late night.

Hearths lit up early, flouting festival norms

In a virtual violation of Pongala rituals, hearths were lit up at several places before pandara aduppu (holy hearth) at Attukal Temple was lit. The hearths were lit up early at few locations in East Fort and Ambalathara. However, the holy hearth was lit after 10.30 am. The enthusiastic devotees around satellite shrines and resident’s associations lit the hearth early without a patient wait.

“As per norms, the light is passed from Sreekovil to Thidapally and then to a ‘nilavilakku’ and Pandara aduppu. Ideally, from here the fire is passed on to ‘parivaram’ aka people. Since there are lakhs of people offering pongala, it will take hours for fire from pandara aduppu to reach the last hearth. So it’s safe to light it after lighting pandara aduppu,” said R. Sugathan, a priest. The pongala turning into satellite pongala comes with its own pros and cons, warn the priests.

As per the tantric experts, due caution needs to be observed when Attukal Pongala is observed on the premises of a temple dedicated to a different deity. “A temple has sreekovil and outer wall. Attukal Pongala should be held outside out wall of a temple if it’s dedicated to another deity. Even the prasadam (blessed offering) cannot be brought into the premises of the temple. So it’s fine only to offer pongala, say,  in an auditorium or land owned by the temple outside premises,” he added.