T’puram: Thousands of women devotees participated in the annual Pongala ritual at Karikkakom Sree Chamundi Devi Temple on Monday, marking the culmination of a week-long festival.The ritual commenced at 10.15am after Puliannur Illathu Narayanan Anujan Namboothiripad, the temple’s tanthri, lit the ‘pandara aduppu’ (main hearth), signaling devotees to light thousands of makeshift hearths arranged across the temple premises and adjoining roads. Temple authorities said the arrangements were carried out smoothly despite the intense summer heat, with multiple govt departments coordinating to manage the large turnout. Officials noted a significant increase in participation this year compared to previous editions. The Pongala stretch extended nearly 4 to 5km from the temple premises, with women preparing offerings of rice, jaggery and coconut in earthen pots as part of the ritual. Authorities said that around 2.15pm, the ceremonial sword of the deity was taken in a ritual procession to the ‘pandarakkalam’, where the ‘pongala tharpanam’ was performed. Around 150 priests later sprinkled holy water on the hearths, marking the culmination of the main offering, authorities added. The seven-day festival concluded with the traditional ‘gurusi’ ritual after the ‘athazha pooja’, during which the ceremonial sword was taken to gurusikkalam. Pongala is observed annually on the makam day in Malayalam month of Meenam, believed to be birth star of the goddess.
