Attukal Bhagavathy Temple

Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is one of the oldest temples in South India also known as the Sabarimala of the Women. It is the abode of the goddess who cares for her devotees like a mother and grants them every wish. The biggest event here is the pongala festival which attracts millions of women regardless of religious faith from all over the world who offers pongala in earthen pots. As per the Gunnies book of world records this is the largest annual gathering of women and as per the latest statistics 2015 saw an unbelievable gathering of more than 5 million women devotees who offered pongala in a radius of 10 kilometers from the temple. Some of the other events during this festival are the Kuthiyottam ritual done by boys below 13 years who observe a 7 days fasting by staying inside the temple. It is believed that these boys represent the wounded soldiers of Goddess Mahishasura mardini. Then there is a thalappoli performed by girls in traditional dress and the grant procession of the Goddess.

History of Attukal Devi temple state that goddess Parvathi in the divinized form of kanaki after destroying the ancient city of Madurai and on the way to Kodugallur took a rest at attukal. Here she met a fervent devotee from a noble family who took her home from where she just vanished. During the night Goddess came to his dreams and asked him to build an abode for her on a sacred ground marked by three lines. This noble devotee lost no time and built a temple in the consecrated spot which was later renovated and consecration ceremony conducted by the high priest of the Badarinath Temple.