EPISODE - 68
Pongala Festival March 2018
After November visit, Kalpana had no intention of going back to India till July- August.
That is the time when schools and colleges are closed for vacation in the UAE.
However, Kanna had other plans…
During the third week of November, Kalpana had a strong desire to go for the Pongala festival.
A little information on Pongala festival:
This festival is conducted during Feb-March every year in Trivandrum.
The main deity for whom the festival is dedicated is Attukal Bhagavathy.
This festival has entered into Guinness book of World records. Reason…
It is the biggest gathering of women in one city. Women world over converge in Trivandrum during this period.
The name 'Pongala' means 'to boil over'. It is a nine day festival where Attukal Bhagavathy is worshipped with a lot of devotion.
On the concluding day women cook the traditional pongal (porridge of rice, jaggery, coconut grating and ghee) in mud pots.
All the streets would be lined with brick stoves and women come in hordes not only from Trivandrum, its neighbouring villages but also from across the globe to celebrate this festival.
On the concluding day women cook the traditional pongal (porridge of rice, jaggery, coconut grating and ghee) in mud pots.
All the streets would be lined with brick stoves and women come in hordes not only from Trivandrum, its neighbouring villages but also from across the globe to celebrate this festival.
The interesting part is all households, across all religions, open their doors for the devotees who come to Trivandrum.
They not only accommodate the devotees but also provide free food and water to everyone.
Such is the devotion and belief that people have in Attukal Bhagavathy.
So…
Feb - March is the exams time for children.
However, Kalpana’s desire to perform ponagala in 2018 was very strong.
And Unni Kanna also supported her saying that she has to go to Trivandrum for the festival.
She booked tickets for herself, as well as for her children and informed me too.
In fact we had plans to go together in 2020.
Who knows what Kanna’s plans are?
I too booked my tickets but was very unsure as it depended on my daughter’s exams.
In February, Kanna told Sneha that she too had to go to Trivandrum and perform Pongala.
They not only accommodate the devotees but also provide free food and water to everyone.
Such is the devotion and belief that people have in Attukal Bhagavathy.
So…
Feb - March is the exams time for children.
However, Kalpana’s desire to perform ponagala in 2018 was very strong.
And Unni Kanna also supported her saying that she has to go to Trivandrum for the festival.
She booked tickets for herself, as well as for her children and informed me too.
In fact we had plans to go together in 2020.
Who knows what Kanna’s plans are?
I too booked my tickets but was very unsure as it depended on my daughter’s exams.
In February, Kanna told Sneha that she too had to go to Trivandrum and perform Pongala.
Kalpana, her children, Mini Diwakaran, a cousin of Kalpana, and myself travelled to Cochin on the 27th of Feb.
In the morning we visited Chittor Sri Krishna temple.
As soon as we completed the darshan and came out, we could see four Krishna Parandus (Eagles) circling above the temple.
When Unni Kanna is visiting would His vahanam be far behind?
In the morning we visited Chittor Sri Krishna temple.
As soon as we completed the darshan and came out, we could see four Krishna Parandus (Eagles) circling above the temple.
When Unni Kanna is visiting would His vahanam be far behind?
The next day early in the morning we started for Trivandrum and on the way visited Kalpana’s family temple - Kottoor Mahadeva temple (Shiva temple)
It was Holi as well as pournami.
When Kalpana was doing her prayers a black crow (Keralites call it as Belli Kaka) came and drank the tirtham (holy water) from the vessel.
Kalpana could not control her emotions and tears rolled down from her eyes after hearing about that incident from Kanna.
The reason…
It was Kalpana’s mother who came in the form of the crow and drank the holy water.
Kanna also said that Kalpana’s mother was very happy with her visit to temple and hence came to bless her.
No wonder!!!
Kalpana was extremely close to her mother and hence the happiness.
The priest gave the same holy water to everyone as prasadam.
It was Holi as well as pournami.
When Kalpana was doing her prayers a black crow (Keralites call it as Belli Kaka) came and drank the tirtham (holy water) from the vessel.
Kalpana could not control her emotions and tears rolled down from her eyes after hearing about that incident from Kanna.
The reason…
It was Kalpana’s mother who came in the form of the crow and drank the holy water.
Kanna also said that Kalpana’s mother was very happy with her visit to temple and hence came to bless her.
No wonder!!!
Kalpana was extremely close to her mother and hence the happiness.
The priest gave the same holy water to everyone as prasadam.
What a blessing. Rarely do we have our family who passed away come down to bless us.
There is also a small Krishna sanctorum in the same premises.
Kanna blessed everyone present there.
There is also a small Krishna sanctorum in the same premises.
Kanna blessed everyone present there.
Later Krishna told that the temple is a very blessed place as there is lot of wealth (Aishwaryam) and all the deities there are very happy and satisfied.
On the way, we were fortunate to visit Kottarakkara Sri Maha Ganapathi temple.
It is believed Ganesha here is very powerful and fulfils the wishes of His devotees.
Devotees break a coconut here and if the coconut breaks the wishes are said to be fulfilled.
The speciality here is the naivedyam for Ganesha. It is unni appam (a sweet).
The sweet is cooked continuously just opposite the main Sanctum Sanctorum.
It is as if Gannu is watching over the process of making the unni appam and as soon as it taken out from the oil He consumes them.
I believe the Unni appam is very tasty and is out of the world.
However that particular day the prasadam was not on sale.
Whatever would be made all of that would be offered as Naivedyam to Gannu and only at 8 pm it would be distributed free of cost to all the devotees.
On the way, we were fortunate to visit Kottarakkara Sri Maha Ganapathi temple.
It is believed Ganesha here is very powerful and fulfils the wishes of His devotees.
Devotees break a coconut here and if the coconut breaks the wishes are said to be fulfilled.
The speciality here is the naivedyam for Ganesha. It is unni appam (a sweet).
The sweet is cooked continuously just opposite the main Sanctum Sanctorum.
It is as if Gannu is watching over the process of making the unni appam and as soon as it taken out from the oil He consumes them.
I believe the Unni appam is very tasty and is out of the world.
However that particular day the prasadam was not on sale.
Whatever would be made all of that would be offered as Naivedyam to Gannu and only at 8 pm it would be distributed free of cost to all the devotees.
Every one of us had a very good darshan of the Lord and Sneha said she could see Ganesha moving his head as if approving our visit.
We stayed at one of Mini’s friends, sisters Sheela Jagadish and Usha Thampy.
As I said people open their houses for devotees offering Pongala.
Usha gracefully accommodated nine of us and made us feel comfortable and welcome.
She also made sure a place was reserved at a nearby temple - Kudappana Kunnu Devi Temple for the Pongala next day.
It is a really blissful experience to perform Pongala.
The whole environment pulsates with devotional feeling.
The entire temple area was decorated and kavadi was taken out in the name of Devi with the kavadi bearers dancing.
It is to be experienced at least once in a life time.
The next day by 9 am we occupied the place which we had reserved the previous evening.
This year the Pongala was on Friday, 2nd of March a very auspicious day for Devi.
As soon as we reached the temple we went for the darshan of the Goddess.
We stayed at one of Mini’s friends, sisters Sheela Jagadish and Usha Thampy.
As I said people open their houses for devotees offering Pongala.
Usha gracefully accommodated nine of us and made us feel comfortable and welcome.
She also made sure a place was reserved at a nearby temple - Kudappana Kunnu Devi Temple for the Pongala next day.
It is a really blissful experience to perform Pongala.
The whole environment pulsates with devotional feeling.
The entire temple area was decorated and kavadi was taken out in the name of Devi with the kavadi bearers dancing.
It is to be experienced at least once in a life time.
The next day by 9 am we occupied the place which we had reserved the previous evening.
This year the Pongala was on Friday, 2nd of March a very auspicious day for Devi.
As soon as we reached the temple we went for the darshan of the Goddess.
At 10.30 the holy fire is brought from the temple and handed over to the first person sitting at the starting position of each row.
It is then passed on to the rest of the devotees in that particular row.
People use the dried waste from coconut trees to cook the pongal.
A way of conserving the environment as well as waste management.
While cooking the pongal, Kalpana could see Bhagavathy Devi standing in front of her and bending down to see the pongal being cooked in hers as well as her daughter’s pots.
What a blessing....!!!!
Devi Maa herself supervising whether the pongal is cooked to her satisfaction and then taking the offering directly from the cooked pot.
Aditya could see Kanna was sitting on Kalpana’s nose pin with folded hands.
It is then passed on to the rest of the devotees in that particular row.
People use the dried waste from coconut trees to cook the pongal.
A way of conserving the environment as well as waste management.
While cooking the pongal, Kalpana could see Bhagavathy Devi standing in front of her and bending down to see the pongal being cooked in hers as well as her daughter’s pots.
What a blessing....!!!!
Devi Maa herself supervising whether the pongal is cooked to her satisfaction and then taking the offering directly from the cooked pot.
Aditya could see Kanna was sitting on Kalpana’s nose pin with folded hands.
After the cooking is done all ladies cover their pots with banana leaves.
They need to wait till 2.30 PM.
That is the time when the priest, accompanied by the sound of drums, would bring the holy water from temple.
He would go around sprinkling it in each and every pot indicating that the naivedyam has been accepted by Devi herself.
Once this is done all devotees would pack their belongings and leave the premises.
As summer has already set in, Trivandrum was very hot.
The temple has a big auditorium where programs are conducted during festivals and auspicious occasions.
All devotees who complete the cooking of the pongal take shelter in this auditorium to avoid the harsh sun rays.
While we were sitting and chatting, Krishna was playing chupa chup (hide and seek) with Kalpana.
As we were relaxing in the auditorium He was back to His mother.
He wanted Kalpana to buy Him a chain with artificial stones.
We know Kanna’s love for jewellery and His tendency to wear everything at the same time.
Keeping this in mind Kalpana refused to buy him anything for Him.
They need to wait till 2.30 PM.
That is the time when the priest, accompanied by the sound of drums, would bring the holy water from temple.
He would go around sprinkling it in each and every pot indicating that the naivedyam has been accepted by Devi herself.
Once this is done all devotees would pack their belongings and leave the premises.
As summer has already set in, Trivandrum was very hot.
The temple has a big auditorium where programs are conducted during festivals and auspicious occasions.
All devotees who complete the cooking of the pongal take shelter in this auditorium to avoid the harsh sun rays.
While we were sitting and chatting, Krishna was playing chupa chup (hide and seek) with Kalpana.
As we were relaxing in the auditorium He was back to His mother.
He wanted Kalpana to buy Him a chain with artificial stones.
We know Kanna’s love for jewellery and His tendency to wear everything at the same time.
Keeping this in mind Kalpana refused to buy him anything for Him.
Like a small child who is upset, He started sulking and went to the other corner of the auditorium.
Can you imagine what He did next???
From a distance He threw a Manjadikuru on Kalpana.
It hit her on the right shoulder and fell down.
We were so shocked and happy to have witnessed this incident.
As per the wishes of Kanna, Mini was blessed to receive this Manjadi.
It was a beautiful and blessed journey to have experienced pongala for the first time as well as Kanna’s leelas.
Can you imagine what He did next???
From a distance He threw a Manjadikuru on Kalpana.
It hit her on the right shoulder and fell down.
We were so shocked and happy to have witnessed this incident.
As per the wishes of Kanna, Mini was blessed to receive this Manjadi.
It was a beautiful and blessed journey to have experienced pongala for the first time as well as Kanna’s leelas.
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