Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

Devotees gearing up for pongala at Chakkulattukavu

Staff Reporter

FERVANT DEVOTION: Women camping on the premises of the Chakkulattukavu Bhagavathy Temple at Neeretupuram, near Thiruvalla, on Monday to offer Pongala to the deity on Tuesday.

PATHANAMTHITTA: Hundreds of women devotees from different parts of the State are camping at the Chakkulattukavu Bhagvathy Temple at Neeretupuram near Thiruvalla since Monday morning to offer the pongala as part of the annual Karthika Pongala festival to be held on Tuesday.

The KSRTC bus stand at Thiruvalla was flooded with Chakkulattukavu-bound devotees and the corporation was operating special services to the temple every five minutes, officials said.

A total of 20 buses and adequate staff had been deployed for the pongala special service on Monday, KSRTC sources said. The Kerala Water Authority had made arrangements for uninterrupted water supply in the locality on Monday and Tuesday in view of the festival.

The temple authorities had also made elaborate arrangements to supply drinking water to devotees, according to public relations officer of the temple Suresh Kavumbhagom..

The Kerala State Electricity Board had made arrangements to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the locality. The Fire Force and police had opened temporary stations at Neerettupuram in view of the festival.

The nadappanthal as well as the temporary pilgrim shelters on the temple premises had already been occupied by the devotees. Meanwhile, entry of men to the temple premises had been restricted from Monday afternoon in view of the massive turnout of women devotees.

District Collector A.J. Rajan declared local holiday on Tuesday for all Government offices and educational institutions on the western side of MC Road in Thiruvalla taluk in view of the pongala. Meanwhile, Pathanamthitta district had been excluded from the hartal called by the CPI(ML) on Tuesday in view of the Sabarimala pilgrim season and the Pongala festival, a release from the organisation said.

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