This festival is dedicated to Goddess Attukal Amma, believed to be an incarnation of Kannaki, a powerful symbol of purity and strength in Hindu tradition. What makes Pongala unique is that it is celebrated almost entirely by women, who gather in millions to offer a sacred dish called pongala (a mixture of rice, jaggery, coconut, and ghee).
On the festival day, the entire city transforms into a massive open-air kitchen. Women sit in long rows along streets, courtyards, and open spaces, cooking in clay pots over wood fires. The ritual begins when the chief priest lights the main hearth at the temple, and the flame is then passed from one devotee to another.
The Attukal Pongala Festival is recognized in the Guinness World Records for being the largest gathering of women for a religious activity. It represents devotion, unity, and cultural strength, attracting participants not only from Kerala but from across India and abroad.