Attukal Bhagavathi Temple

Braving the hot sun, thousands of women prepared 'Pongala' (offering) in makeshift brick stoves to appease the presiding deity of Attukal Bhagavathy temple here, in what is called as one of the world's largest all women gatherings.

A record 40 lakh women devotees are expected to take part in the 10-day Attukal Pongala festival that begins at the Attukal Bhagavathi temple in Thiruvananthpuram on Tuesday, officials said.

Women in thousands are converging in the Kerala capital on the eve of the famed "Pongala" festival of Attukal Bhagavathi temple, billed as the world's largest religious convergence of women.

Braving the hot sun, thousands of women prepared 'Pongala' (offering) in makeshift brick stoves to appease the presiding deity of Attukal Bhagavathy temple here, in what is called as one of the world's largest all women gatherings.

A record 40 lakh women devotees are expected to take part in the 10-day Attukal Pongala festival that begins at the Attukal Bhagavathi temple in Thiruvananthpuram on Tuesday, officials said.

Women in thousands are converging in the Kerala capital on the eve of the famed "Pongala" festival of Attukal Bhagavathi temple, billed as the world's largest religious convergence of women.