Thousands of women gathered for Pongala in Thiruvananthapuram

On March 13, 2025, thousands of women gathered in Thiruvananthapuram for the annual Pongala ritual at the Attukal Bhagavathy temple. This event celebrates the goddess Attukalamma and has become one of the largest religious gatherings of women globally. This year, over 3,800 police personnel were deployed to ensure safety, supported by 847 cameras and drones. For the first time, women firefighters assisted during the event, addressing heat-related issues as temperatures soared. Despite the heat, the ritual concluded without major incidents, with 65 cases of heat exhaustion reported. The festival continues to grow, expanding beyond the temple into the city streets.