Thiruvananthapuram: Attukal Pongala will be a low key product this year too.
Pongala will be held on February 17, Thursday, at 10:50 a.m.
Imam Temple will illuminate the ‘Pandara Adupp’ (main fireplace) and female worshipers can offer Pongala from their household.
No one was permitted in the temple complex for Pongala, said the authorities.
This festival is celebrated from 9 to 17 February this year.
Temple trust, at a press conference held here on Saturday, said that it had decided to narrow the festival ritual like the previous year.
Consider the high number of Covid cases, some traditional rituals of the temple, including ‘vilakkukettu’ will also be dropped this year.
The worshipers can also register for Pongala Online through the official Temple website.
At the same time, worshipers will be allowed to visit the temple to give their prayers.
The crowd enters the temple will be managed with the help of barricades.
The right sanitation facilities will also be implemented.
The ‘kuthiyottam’ ritual has also been dropped when children who appear for Kuthiyottam must live in the temple that contradicts the Covid protocol.
‘Pandaraottam’ will be done instead of Kuthiyottam which will only include one chosen child.
Pongala offer sanctification at the temple will be 1.20 a night.
Due to Covid restrictions, the ‘Thalapoli’ ritual has been modified this year and only girls between the ages of 10 and 12 who will participate.
This festival will include normal cultural events such as dances and music and the form of temple art, including “Diyani” and “Muthappan Velattam”.
Trust has established several committees to run smoothly this year’s festival.
In addition, direct streaming Pongala at Attukal Temple ‘Pandara Adupp’ will be available on the official website of the temple.
“Even though the government has given permission to conduct a Pongala Festival in the temple complex with a number of 200 people, trust has decided not to let worshipers offer Pongala in the temple compound.
It would be unfair if we let some people alone to offer Pongala.
Further change will be made If the government declares changes in current limits.
The festival will be carried out only based on Government Regulations, “Shishupalan Nair, Secretary of the Temple Trust.