Thiruvananthapuram | 'Attukal Pongala', the mass gathering of thousands of women devotees to offer 'pongala' to the presiding deity of the Attukal Bhagavathy temple here, will be celebrated on Tuesday.

As the 'pongala' is going to be celebrated this year without any Covid-19 restrictions, unlike the last two years, a huge turnout of women is expected this time.

Considered as one of the largest religious congregations of women in the world, brick hearths are set up along the roads in the state capital for preparing the 'pongala' -- a mix of rice, jaggery and scraped coconut -- in fresh earthen or metal pots.

Preparing 'pongala' is considered an auspicious all-women ritual as part of the annual festival of the Attukal temple here, popularly known as the "Women's Sabarimala."

Devotees waiting for opening of the shrine for the famous 'Chottanikara Makam' in Ernakulam district of Kerala on Monday.