Lakhs of devotees take part in 'Pongala' festival amid

Amid the coronavirus scare and strict government guidelines issued in the wake of six fresh positive cases being reported in Kerala, lakhs of women took part in the famous "Attukal Pongala," one of the largest religious congregations of women, here on Monday.

Braving the scorching heat, devotees from the state and outside, converged in temple grounds, both sides of highways, roads and bylines across the capital city and prepared 'pongala', a sweet offering, on makeshift brick stoves.

Unlike previous years, women devotees, including children and elders, could be seen wearing face masks while preparing the offering, as a precautionary measure in the wake of the virus outbreak.

People using hand sanitizers in between was also common. Some devotees complained that masks and sanitizers were out of stock in many medical shops in the city.

Preparing 'pongala' (sweet offering) is considered an auspicious all-women ritual as part of the annual festival of the Attukal Bhahavathy Temple here, popularly known as the "Women's Sabarimala."
Following this, women devotees lit their brick stoves and prepared the offering with prayers