Kollam Poised for Devotional Convergence
Thousands are anticipated to converge in Kollam on Friday for the Pongala Maholasavam at the Sree Puthiyakavu Bhagawathy temple, an event drawing parallels to the well-known Attukal festival. The proceedings are set to commence with the temple's chief priest, N Balamurali, transferring a sacred flame from the sanctum sanctorum to the main lamp. This act will signal devotees, situated across various points in Kollam city, to ignite their own hearths in an offering to the goddess.
The festival, described as the 'Attukal of Kollam,' involves the preparation of pongala, a sweet rice pudding, as a customary offering. Following the initial lighting of the ceremonial hearth, known as the bhandara aduppu, the prepared offerings will be presented.
Preparations and Broader Context
Arrangements for the event have been reported as complete, with support expected from various state departments. This includes services from the police, Fire and Rescue Services, the Kerala Water Authority, and the Health department. The festival, which is a 12-day affair culminating in a guruthi offering, also includes cultural programs, spiritual discourses, and folk art performances.
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In a wider display of communal coexistence, an imam in Kerala has reportedly encouraged mosques to offer their premises and facilities to Hindu devotees participating in the pongala festival. This gesture, highlighted as an example of fraternity, echoes a tradition where such venues are often made available to accommodate the large influx of women who participate in these rituals. The Attukal Pongala, a similar event in Thiruvananthapuram, is noted for drawing tens of thousands of women, who line kilometers of streets to prepare the offering.
The Sree Puthiyakavu Devi Temple is situated in the heart of Kollam town, with the nearest railway station a short distance away. The annual festival typically takes place during the Malayalam month of Kumbham, falling between February and March.