Thiruvananthapuram gears up as lakhs assemble for Attukal Pongala

Thiruvananthapuram: Authorities have put in place extensive preparations as lakhs of women devotees are expected to converge for Attukal Pongala festival on Tuesday. Scores of pilgrims from other districts have already arrived in Thiruvananthapuram, booking rooms in hotels and staying with relatives and friends in anticipation of the ritual that draws participants from across the region.

The pongala ritual will begin at 9.45am with the lighting of the hearth at the temple by chief priest and the nivedyam offering will be at 2.15pm.

City streets saw a steady uptick in activity over the past few days, with traffic volume increasing sharply due to the influx of vehicles carrying pilgrims. Many devotees already booked their places on the footpaths by keeping red bricks for the hearth. Police have widened traffic management measures across key routes leading to the temple, and restrictions on heavy vehicles were enforced during peak hours to ease traffic.


In response to the expected crowds, city police, in coordination with District Disaster Management Authority, are executing a comprehensive crowd and crisis management plan, particularly at major transit points such as railway station and KSRTC hub. Special waiting areas and crowd control measures were set up to handle the post-pongala rush.

Sanitation and public health arrangements were also scaled up, with thousands of sanitation workers deployed to manage waste generated during the festival. Water distribution points and hygiene facilities are being installed along key congregation areas, and additional medical teams are on standby to assist devotees.

Echoing these coordinated efforts, Suchitwa Mission and local authorities intensified a ‘green protocol' campaign to promote a clean and environmentally responsible festival, emphasising waste segregation, the ban on single-use plastics and responsible disposal practices.

Authorities have urged motorists to follow designated routes and have asked devotees to make use of public transport options, including chain services introduced by KSRTC to ferry pilgrims from peripheral points to the temple.