Thiruvananthapuram | The state capital of Kerala became a 'yagyashala' as thousands of women devotees from various parts of the state prepared 'pongala' on brick hearths lining the roads of the city to celebrate 'Attukal Pongala' on Tuesday.

Several rows of brick hearths were lined up around the Attukal Bhagavathy temple here with many women, cutting across age barriers, as they prepared offerings for the presiding deity of the shrine.

Where the last two years saw women preparing 'pongala' in their homes due to Covid-19 restrictions, this year lakhs, including TV and movie stars, arrived in Thiruvananthapuram from across Kerala and even from neighbouring Tamil Nadu to celebrate the festival with full religious fervour.

Incidentally, this year's festival comes on the eve of International Women's Day, which falls on March 8.

The pongala festival marks the finale of the 10-day ritual at the shrine.

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".

Women devotees preparing 'Pongala Nivedyam' during Devi Pongala at Sree Ayyappa Temple, Berkhera, BHEL on Tuesday

Women devotees pray ahead of Pongala preparation organised by Naree Shakti of Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham at Sree Ram Janki Sidha Hanuman Mandir, Ayodhya Nagar on Tuesday.