THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA, February 21, 2008: Women in thousands have started pouring in to participate in the famous gathering at Attukal temple, one of the world’s biggest female congregations. The Attukal Bhagavati temple entered the Guinness Book of World Records two years back as a religious event that draws over a million women on a single day.
The whole city will turn into a sea of women when the sun rises, with the road, pavements and by-lanes about an area of six kilometers around the temple being occupied by devotees with the earthen pots placed on brick hearths in front of them to prepare the “prasadam” (sweetened pudding). The ritual consists of preparation of the prasadam of rice, jaggery, coconut and spices, to be offered to Devi to invoke her blessings for peace and prosperity.
The Temple Trust authorities said 2.5 million devotees were expected
this year.