Sun Mar 16 07:03:40 UTC 2025: ## Massive Pongala Festival in Thiruvananthapuram Concludes Without Major Incidents
**THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, March 16, 2025** – The annual Attukal Pongala festival, a massive religious gathering of women in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, concluded on March 13th without any major incidents despite record-breaking heat. Millions of women participated in the ritual, which involves cooking a sweet rice offering to the goddess Attukalamma.
The festival, recognized by Guinness World Records in 2009 as the largest single-day religious gathering of women, saw over 2.5 million devotees braving scorching temperatures to participate. The city’s streets were filled with smoke and fervent energy as women prepared their Pongala offerings using makeshift hearths.
Extensive security measures were implemented, with 3,815 police personnel and 847 surveillance cameras deployed to manage the crowds. Drones were also used to monitor the event. The Kerala Police and Fire and Rescue Services worked together to ensure safety, with the inclusion of women firefighters for the first time in the state’s history proving crucial in assisting devotees experiencing heat exhaustion. Despite the extreme heat, only 65 cases of heat exhaustion were reported.
The Pongala festival, deeply rooted in local mythology, commemorates the legendary Kannagi and her journey. The event extended beyond the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, spilling into surrounding areas. Devotees from around the globe joined in the celebration, further highlighting the festival’s global significance.
First Piper 