The Hindu : Front Page : Elaborate arrangements for Attukal pongala

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 12, 2006

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Front Page

Elaborate arrangements for Attukal pongala

Staff Reporter

DGP Raman Srivastava reviews security arrangements

GIVING FINAL TOUCHES: The arch of the East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram, a historical monument, being spruced up by painters ahead of the Attukal pongala festival. Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

Thiruvananthapuram: All arrangements have been completed for the pongala being offered to Attukal Bhagavathy on Monday, which is to be attended by over 10 lakh devotees.

Elaborate arrangements have been made to enable women devotees coming from various parts of the State, neighbouring Tamil Nadu and abroad to offer pongala, chairman and secretary of the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple Trust G. Madhavan Nair and K.P. Ramachandran Nair told a press conference here on Saturday.

The trust has acquired another 1.01 hectares of land near where cultural programmes are being organised to enable the devotees to offer pongala close to the temple. The trust office-bearers have requested devotees to avoid sun-baked bricks for putting up hearths.

Director General of Police (DGP) Raman Srivastava visited the temple on Saturday and reviewed the security arrangements with the police officials and the temple authorities. Additional 2,000 police personnel will be deployed in the temple on Monday to contain the heavy rush of devotees.

The police personnel have been deployed in strength to provide security and more women constables have been posted in the temple. Over 600 volunteers will be pressed into service in the temple on Monday, the chairman said.

The city police will impose traffic restrictions in the capital city from 9 p.m. on Sunday to facilitate the arrival and departure of vehicles bringing devotees for the pongala.

Steps have been taken to install 16 water tanks to provide uninterrupted drinking water. The Kerala Fire and Rescue Services and Kerala Water Authority had been asked to supply water to the tanks.

Teams of doctors and para-medical personnel from the Government and private hospitals will be deployed to take care of the medical needs.

The rituals will begin with Tantri Chenas Dinesan Namboodiripad, lighting the `pandara aduppu' with the lighted ghee lamp from the sanctum sanctorum. Melsanthi Devadasan Namboodiri will receive the lamp and proceed towards the hearth in front of the `thottam pattu' singers.

He will light the hearth at 11.30 a.m.

Mr. Ramachandran Nair said the pongala will be consecrated at 3.15 p.m. by 150 priests. The trust has decided to provide red or brown shawl with the letters `ABT' inscribed on it to enable the devotees to identify the priests easily.

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