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Attukal Pongala in Thiruvananthapuram today: Everything you need to know

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2 years ago

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Attukal Pongala

Attukal Pongala, popularly called Women’s Sabarimala is being held today after a long gap of 2 years. The devotees performed Attukal Pongala from their homes for the past 2 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the reduction in COVID-19 cases, the Government of Kerala has decided to allow Attukal Pongala in full glory. The temple authorities started preparations three months back and devotees have started to arrive two days before the Pongala. There was a long rush of devotees to seek the blessings of Attukal Devi. Interestingly, Attutak Pongala falls one day before International Women’s Day on March 8.

Preparations

On Tuesday, the Attukal Pongala will see participation from thousands of women devotees representing various backgrounds. The city is already bustling with the arrival of pilgrims, travelers, and tourists, who have come to witness the grandeur of the festival.

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival is expected to draw an enormous crowd. Officials anticipate a 40% increase in the number of attendees. Last year, the Pongala festival was observed in a subdued fashion, confined to households. However, this year, the city streets are teeming with devotees. One can already spot bricks lining the footpaths of major roads leading to the temple, in preparation for the hearths to be set up.

Attukal Pongala Timings

The Attukal Pongala offering ceremony will commence at 10:30 am, with the temple’s head priest igniting the stove using fire from the temple’s sanctum sanctorum. The sanctification of the Pongala offerings with holy water (Nnivedyam) is scheduled for 2:30 pm. The ten-day festival will conclude on March 15. Even if you are not located in Thiruvananthapuram, you can perform Pongala from your home. You just need to follow the timings.

Attukal Devi

Food Safety Measures

A total of 725 organizations have received registration to conduct ‘Annadanam’ on the day of Pongala. In order to ensure food safety during the festival, five special squads have been deployed by the food safety authorities.

An official from the Food Safety department stated that they have instructed the ‘Annadanam’ organizers to avoid storing food for extended periods and to prepare it fresh for the devotees. They have also issued a strict warning to use only water supplied by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA). The official added that they are regularly collecting samples of raw materials and water to ensure the safety of the food being served.

The Food Safety official further stated that the sale of food items without proper labels has been banned, and an advisory has been issued to the devotees to avoid consuming such food items. Food safety helplines have been set up, and the numbers are as follows: 8943346181, 8943346582, 1800 425 1125, and 8943346526. The public is encouraged to reach out to these helplines if they have any concerns regarding food safety during the festival.

Apart from ensuring food safety, the Health Department has also made extensive arrangements to provide medical aid to the devotees. An official stated that approximately 30 ambulances would be stationed at various locations across the city to offer medical assistance to the devotees. “The district medical office has arranged for ten ambulances, and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and private hospitals have agreed to provide an additional 20 ambulances on the day of Pongala,” the official added. This measure aims to ensure that medical aid is readily available to anyone who requires it during the festival.

Transportation Services

To facilitate the transportation of women devotees participating in the Pongala festival, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation will operate special services from 11 key points in the city on Tuesday. This initiative aims to provide a smooth and hassle-free commute for the devotees.

In addition, the Indian Railways has also arranged for special services to ensure convenient transportation during the festival. A special train from Nagercoil Junction-Thiruvananthapuram Central has been scheduled to depart at 3:30 am and arrive at the capital at 5:30 am. This train will halt at various stations, including Nagercoil Town, Virani Alur, Eraniel, Palliyadi, Kuzithurai, Kuzithurai West, Parassala, Dhanuvachapuram, Amaravila, Neyyatinkara, Balaramapuram, and Nemom.

Two more trains, the Ananthapuri Daily Express (16824) originating from Kollam and the Kanyakumari-Punalur daily, will also be available to augment transportation services during the festival. These trains will stop at all stations along the way.

Cleaning after Attukal Pongala

After the Attukal Pongala festival, around 2,200 sanitation workers will be deployed for the post-festival cleanup in Thiruvananthapuram. These workers will work towards ensuring that the entire city is cleaned up within a few hours following the event. This initiative aims to maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of the city while also ensuring a safe and healthy environment for its residents.

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Entertainment

Malaikottai Vaaliban OTT Release Date Revealed

Published

10 months ago

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February 12, 2024

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Malaikottai Vaaliban OTT

Malaikottai Vaaliban was released on January 25, 2024, amidst huge expectations. Directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery, Malaikottai Vaaliban has entered its third week without much celebration among fans. According to reports, the Malaikottai Vaaliban OTT is expected to hit Disney+ Hotstar by the first week of March.

The company has acquired streaming rights for the film. Even though the films are released on OTT platforms after fourth week, there are indications that Malaikottai Vaaliban OTT will have an early release. There is a possibility that the film could hit OTT by the end of February 2024.

In addition to Mohanlal, Malaikottai Vaaliban features Sonali Kulkarni, Danish Sait, Manoj Moses, Katha Nandi, Manikandan R. Achari, and much more. The story revolves around the journey to various places and conducts battles with wrestlers. The movie comprises brilliant visual effects but the story was not as per the expectations of the people.

The film failed to make any major impact at the box office. The trackers have reported that Malaikottai Vaaliban has minted Rs 26 crore worldwide, which is less than the overall investment. Mohanlal had announced the release of a comic book. We don’t know in which marketplace the book will be up for sale.

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Mohanlal Share Candid Moments with KJ Yesudas: Photos Inside

Published

10 months ago

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February 11, 2024

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Mohanlal

Mohanlal, the popular Malayalam film actor visited Legendary singer KJ Yesudas at his residence in the US. The Pulimurugan actor shared the images of himself and his friends who visited the singer today. We expect that the duo would have talked about the memories and the current situation prevailing in Kerala.

Mohanlal took to both X (formerly Twitter) and shared information about his meeting with KJ Yesudas.

Mohanlal KJ Yesudas

Mohanlal posted in Malayalam as follows:

At the residence of Ganagandharva

Happy to see my dear Dasetan at his home in America.

Mohanlal met KJ Yesudas along with his friends. This includes Asianet MD Madhavan among others. Previously, Mohanlal had shared an image of an important landmark in Mexico.

Mohanlal Madhavan KJ Yesudas

Mohanlal is in US to oversee the progress of his upcoming film Barroz. The Jailer actor watched Barroz at Sony Studios Hollywood with Mark Kilian and Jonathan Miller. The work includes fine-tuning of music and sound. Barroz is a 3D film produced by Antony Perumbavoor under the banner of Aashirvad Cinemas.

On the work front, Mohanlal’s Malaikottai Vaaliban is running in theatres with mixed response. The film hasn’t pulled viewers to the film theatres. Even though Mohanlal is a crowd-puller, Malaikottai Vaaliban failed to impress the audience due to some reasons. We expect the film to hit the OTT platform by the end of February.

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Entertainment

Malaikottai Vaaliban X Review: Did Lijo Jose Pellissery Made Any Magic With Mohanlal?

Published

11 months ago

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January 25, 2024

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Malaikottai Vaaliban

Lijo Jose Pellissery’s highly anticipated film, ‘Malaikottai Vaaliban‘, starring Mohanlal, made its grand debut on January 25. Hitting the cinemas amidst high hopes, the LJP directorial movie has successfully garnered a full house. The film has sparked a wave of responses from both film enthusiasts and Mohanlal’s ardent fans on social media. Here’s a glimpse at some of the audience reactions on X, previously known as Twitter.

In addition to Mohanlal, Malaikottai Vaaliban features Sonalee Kulkarni, Hareesh Peradi, Manoj Moses, Katha Nandi, Danish Sait, Manikandan R. Achari, Hariprashanth, Suchithra Nair, Andrea Ravera, Rajeev Pillai, Sanjana Chandran, Deepali Vashistha, Murugan Martin, Shanta Dhananjayan, Harikrishnan and Diana Nasonova.

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