KOCHI: More than 5,000 women devotees participated in the 14th Pournami Pongala festival held at Pavakulam Shiva Temple, Kaloor, on Friday.
The rituals started around 5 am with ganapathy pooja. Devotees had lined up from Kaloor Junction to Perandoor road for the pongala. Chief priest Moorkanoor Mohan’s wife Sindhu Mohan lit The main hearth from the divine fire inside the sanctum sanctorum.
The festival started at 9 am and concluded early at 11 am, due to the scorching sun.
“The legend has it that Goddess Parvati would grant devotees participating in the pongala their wish before the next pongala. Devotees from all age groups participated in the festival,” said festival committee president K S Panicker.
“I am a great devotee, and it is a privilege for me to be here for the pongala offering,” said Gowriyamma, a devotee.
A large police posse, medical team and a Fire and Rescue unit were deployed at the temple.
‘Annadanam’
The festival committee had arranged ‘annadanam’ (sacred food offering) for devotees. Cultural programmes, including thiruvathirakali, classical dance and classical music, added flavour to the festivities.