Attukal pongala to break its own record

T’PURAM: The Attukal pongala festival is all set to break its own record. The festival, which entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 1997 for being the largest religious gathering of women, has now received the go-ahead from the Guinness authorities to update its record.

In 1997, the Attukal pongala festival entered the Guinness Book with the participation of 15 lakh devotees. This year, the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple Trust authorities are expecting 25 lakh devotees, Trust members said at a news conference here on Wednesday.

Diana Jennet, who helped the temple authorities obtain the Guinness Record, was present at the news conference. Diana is also a researcher who received PhD for her thesis on Attukal Pongala from the University of California.

The Guinness Book officials have accepted the Temple Trust’s application to update the record from 15 lakh devotees to 25 lakh. They have also asked the Trust officials to send the video coverage and opinion certificates.

“Guinness book moderators might also be present for the pongala this time,” the temple authorities said.

Temple officials also informed that all arrangements had been completed for the pongala, which will be held on Friday. The pongala offering will begin with the burning of aduppu at 10 a.m.

The nivedyam will take place at 3 p.m. The chooralkuthu ritual will begin at 6.45 p.m. and Purathezhunnellippu will begin at 11 p.m. As many as 250 priests will take part in the pongala rituals this year, the temple officials said.

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