London Attukal Pongala celebrations to be held in East Ham on March 7: Same day as it being held in Kerala

By A Staff Reporter

LONDON March 1: The Pongala Mahotsavam, the most important festival of Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, based in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala will be celebrated in London at the Sri Murugan Temple in Manor Park, East Ham on Tuesday, March 7 from 9am.

Attukal Pongala, one of the world’s largest all-women religious congregations, will be held on March 7 in Kerala. Preparing ‘pongala’ is considered an auspicious ritual of the annual festival of the Attukal Bhagavathy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

It is the British Asian Women’s Network which has once again provided an opportunity to offer Attukal Pongala on Tuesday, March 7 at the East Ham Sri Murugan Temple, which is prominent among Hindu worshippers in London.

This is the 16th consecutive year the Attukal Pongala is being held in London.

It wouldn’t have been possible without the leadership of the Social and Cultural Association of Malayalee Women in Britain (BAWN), who are devotees of Attukal Bhagwati.

The puja sacraments will begin on Tuesday, March 7 from 9am, the same day as it being held in Kerala.

The organising committee estimates that about 1,000 Bhagwati devotees will arrive at Sri Murugan Temple in Newham from all over the UK this time.

Organizers and devotees say that every year Attukal pongala becomes a source of long-term inspiration for many experiential testimonies.

Chair of the British Asian Women’s Network (former Atukal Sisters Association), chief organizer, social activist and writer councillor Dr Omana Gangadharan is leading the way in hosting the London’s Atukal Pongala.

The British Asian Women’s Network, which has carried out many charitable activities, is also one of the chief sponsor of the London Breast Cancer Society.

The London Sri Murugan Temple has become one of the most frequently attended venue in Atukalamma’s Sannidhanam outside Kerala.

For further details please contact Dr Omana Gangadharan on 07766822360

Date: Tuesday, March 7 Time: From 9am Venue: London Sree Murugan Temple, Browning Road/ Church Road Junction, Manor Park, London E12 6AF

Attukal Pongala is a famous Malayalam festival celebrated annually at Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. It is a 10 days event commencing on the Karthigai star of the Malayalam month of Makaram or Kumbham and closing with the sacrificial offering known as Kuruthitharpanam at night. On the ninth day of the festival the world famous Attukal Pongala Mahotsavam takes place.