Pongala Celebrated at Chakkulathukavu Bhagavathy Temple

16 December 2013

Pathanamthitta

Pongala was celebrated with great joy and vigour at Chakkulathukavu Bhagavathy Temple in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala as part of the annual Karthika Pongala festival on Sunday.

All lodges at Neerettupuram and in the nearby towns of Edathua, Mannar, Mavelikara, Thiruvalla, Chengannur, and even Changanassery were reportedly full as devotees from far off places booked rooms well in advance. Devotees camped on the temple premises and surrounding areas to get vantage spots to offer Pongala.

Durgadattan Namboodiri, son of temple administrator Manikkuttan Namboodiri, brought the fire from the sanctum sanctorum for lighting the main Pongala hearth. K. Surendran, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State unit general secretary, lighted the ceremonial lamp and the main Pongala hearth prepared in front of the temple with the sacred fire brought from the sanctum sanctorum at 9.30 a.m.

Devotees had lined up on almost all major roads, including MC Road, TK Road, and the Thiruvalla-Mavelikara Road.

As many as 39 teams of priests led by Manikkuttan Namboodiri, carrying the ‘Jeevitha,’ a palanquin-like decorated carriage, sprinkled holy water (theerthom) and flowers on the offering prepared by the devotees, symbolising its acceptance by the presiding deity.

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