The city on Thursday started welcoming women coming from far and near to offer Pongala to the Attukal Bhagavathy.
Hearths were lined up and pots and pans ready even on Thursday morning, as women scouted for places to escape the blistering heat during the day. Many women had brought along children. Some had deputed their menfolk to save space for them.
Devotional music rang out from speakers, and bright lights lit up streets in the evening, as women continued last-minute shopping for earthenware, bricks, and kindling to lit the hearths. By night, the women had settled down for the hours’ long wait to pay obeisance to the deity.
All arrangements have been made for the Pongala. The Pongala will be initiated by Melsanthi (Chief Priest) Vamanan Namboothiri who will light the hearth inside the sanctum sanctorum at 10.15 a.m. on Friday. The sanctification (Nivedyam) ceremony, to be conducted by designated priests, will take place at 2.30 p.m.
At 7.45 p.m., the ‘chooralkuthu’ ritual will be held at the temple for the Kuthiyottam. After the ‘Ezhunelathu’ ritual of the presiding deity, the 983 Kuthiyottam boys will accompany the idol of the goddess in a procession to the Sastha temple at Manacaud. The festival will conclude on Saturday.
As many as 4,200 police personnel will be deployed by the city police in two shifts. Two drones will also be pressed into service. A fleet of ambulances will be made available and emergency routes opened to rush the injured to hospitals.
Devotees have been banned from offering Pongala in the vicinity of fuel depots and warehouses containing inflammable material.
Free medical aid
Free medical aid will be available on the premises of Sreekumar Cinema. Besides expert doctors, nurses and paramedical staff will be available here, and a free ambulance.
Seven additional trains and additional stoppage for 20 trains have been arranged by Railways. As many as 275 Railway Protection Force personnel will manage security at railway stations.
Additional bus services have also been arranged by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation.
The Food Safety Department has opened a 24-hour control room to ensure safe food and water for devotees.
