Context:
Attukal Pongala to be held on February 25.
Attukal Pongala:
- Attukal Pongala – 10 -day- long festival of Attukal Bhagavathy Temple.
- Ritual – Women preparing a special offering called “pongala”, a sweet rice dish, as an offering to the presiding deity of Attukal Devi
- Celebrated during – Malayalam month of Kumbham
- Celebrated at – Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
- Commences with – Musical rendering of the story of the Goddess (Kannaki Charitam) during the “Kappu Kettu ceremony”.
- Significance – Reached Guinness Book of World Records of largest annual gathering of women
Attukal Devi Temple:
- Dedicated to – Kannagi/Attukalamma
- Kannagi – A legendary Tamil woman who forms the central character of the Tamil epic Silappadikaram
- Known as – Sabarimala of Women
- On the banks of – Killi river
- Architecture – Blend of Kerala architectural style and Tamil architectural style
Silappadikaram:
- Author – Ilango Adigal
- Also called – Iliad of Tamil literature
- Belongs to – Later Sangam age (3rd Sangam)
- Theme – Describes the story of Kannagi who seeks revenge on the Pandya kingdom for her husband Kovilan who was wrongly put to death.
- Importance –
- Identified as one among the 5 great epics of Sangam age
- Gives insight into contemporary Tamil society, polity and social life of the people
Source: Hindustan Times
Previous Year Question
Which one of the following books of ancient India has the love story of the son of the founder of Sunga dynasty?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2016 Prelims]
(a) Swapnavasavadatta
(b) Malavikagnimitra
(c) Meghadoota
(d) Ratnavali
Answer: (b)
