Attukal Temple

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{[wikify}} Attukal temple is a shrine in the southern state of India, Kerala. The temple over the years has acquired international importance as it was listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as "the largest gathering of women in the world". The record was based on the number of pilgrims on 23rd February 1997, when 1.5 million assembled to offer 'pongala' to Attukal Devi.

The Goddess Kannaki (Parvathi) is the main deity in this temple at Attukal about 2km south east of Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. It is believed KannakiI came to Attukal from Madurai in Tamil Nadu state adjacent to Thiruvananthapuram. "Attukal Pongala" is the main festival of this temple. Millions of women gather every year in February (month Kumbham in Malayalam calendar [Kumbham-Pooram star]) around this temple and prepare "Pongala" (rice cooked with the ingredients jaggery, ghee, cocount as well as others) in the open in small pots to please the Goddess Kannaki. At the time of festival nearly five kilometers around the temple becomes covered with smoke from the temporary 'aduppu's (temporary hearths made of 3 to 9 bricks). A holiday is declared in the city on that day. Tourists from other countries also join in "Attukal Pongala". The temple is also called "Women's Sabarimala" . It was reported in the media that in the year of 2008, more than 2 million women offered pongala.

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