Pongal, also referred to as Thai Pongal, is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival celebrated by Tamils. It is observed in the month of Thai according to the Tamil solar calendar and usually falls on 14 or 15 January. It is dedicated to Surya and corresponds to Makar Sankranti, the Hindu observance celebrated under many regional names throughout the Indian subcontinent. The festival is celebrated over three or four days with Bhogi, Surya Pongal, Mattu Pongal and Kanum Pongal, observed on consecutive days.
The ChottanikkaraDevi Temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu mother goddess Bhagavati Lakshmi. She is believed to be residing in Chottanikkara (Mahalakshmi) along with her Husband Maha Vishnu. The main deity is also considered as Lakshmi Narayana according to the temple legend. The temple is Classified one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition. The temple is located at Chottanikkara, a southern suburb of the city of Kochi in Ernakulam district, in the state of Kerala, India and is one of the most popular temples in the state. The temple is also known for conducting exorcism.
Vidyarambham, also rendered Akshara Abhyasam, and Mutal Eluttu is a Hindu initiation ceremony that is performed before a child begins their formal education. This ritual is dedicated to the goddess of learning, Saraswati. It is popular in the South Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
Bhadrakali is a Hindu goddess. She is considered to be the auspicious and fortunate form of Adi Shakti who protects the good, known as bhadra.
Attukal is a Hindu pilgrimage centre located on the banks of Killi river, in the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. It is situated about two kilometres to the south east from Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
Chakkulathukavu Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Durga. Situated near Thiruvalla in Neerattupuram, Thalavady Panchayat, Alappuzha District, Kerala, India, it is one of the most renowned temples in the state.
The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is a Hindu religious shrine at Attukal in Kerala, India. Goddess Bhadrakali (Kannaki), mounted over 'vethala', is the main deity in this temple. Bhadrakali, a form of Mahakali, who killed the demon king Daruka, believed to be born from the third eye of lord Shiva. 'Bhadra' means good and 'Kali' means goddess of time. So Bhadrakali is considered as the goddess of prosperity and salvation. Goddess 'Attukal devi', itself is the supreme mother 'Bhaadrkali devi', the goddess of power and courage. She is often referred as Kannaki, the heroine of Ilanko Adikal's 'Silapathikaaram'. The temple is renowned for the annual Attukal Pongal festival, in which over three million women participate. A festival that has figured in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the single largest gathering of women for a religious activity, the Attukal Pongala continues to draw millions of women with each passing year. Attukal Temple is situated near the heart of the city, 2 kilometres away from Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram. Devotees believe that all of their wishes will be fulfilled by the goddess, provide prosperity and can attain salvation. Attukal devi is often worshipped in 3 forms such as Maha Saraswati, Maha Lakshmi and Mahakali/ Parvathy.
Mandaikadu Bhagavathy Amman Temple is a Hindu Temple where Devi Parvathi is the prime deity. It is located near Colachel in the Western coast of Kanniyakumari District, Tamil Nadu. This is one among the most renowned and most important Hindu temples in Kanniyakumari district.
Hinduism is the largest religion in Kerala and Hindu lineages together make up 54.8% of the population of the state according to the 2011 census.
Thazhoor Bhagavathy Kshetram is a 300-year-old Hindu temple on the banks of the Achankovil river in Vazhamuttom, Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. The Devi (goddess) is the main deity here. The centuries-old temple was fully reconstructed in 2020.
The Mullakkal Rajarajeswari Temple is a Hindu temple in Alappuzha, Kerala, India. The temple is also known as the Mullakkal Bhagwati Temple. The temple was designed and built in the old Kerala style. The temple grounds is filled with jasmine plants, after which the place may have been named, since 'mullai' in Tamil and 'mulla' in Malayalam mean jasmine. There are several stories related to the origin of the temple and its foundation. The idol in the inner shrine is that of the goddess Durga. The temple is run by the Travancore Devaswom Board.
Pongala is a harvest festival of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The name 'Pongala' means 'to boil over' and refers to the ritualistic offering of porridge made of rice, sweet brown molasses, coconut gratings, nuts and raisins. Generally women devotees participate in this ritual. Tamil people celebrate as Pongal.
Theppakulathuparai is a small village which is part of the Thirumalayampalayam town panchayat under the Coimbatore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. As the name suggests it has rocky areas (parai). It is close to the Kerala border and enjoys a pleasant climate throughout the year. It is a village with less than 50 houses and only two small grocery stores selling essentials.
Anikkattilammakshethram is a Hindu Temple situated in Anicadu Village, 3.5 km from Mallappally in Pathanamthitta district in the southern part of Kerala, in the peninsular India.
The MajorVellayani Devi Temple is a highly revered shrine in Kerala, India, dedicated to goddess Bhadrakali. The shrine is situated in Vellayani 1.5 km west of Vellayani junction, 12 km southeast of Thiruvananthapuram on the eastern bank of Vellayani Lake. The temple is under the management of Travancore Devaswom Board. The temple structure has a bronze roof with traditional art work and carries Dravidian architecture. The temple has eastern and northern towers called Gopurams with statues of different Gods sculptured in them. The Gopurams function as gateways through the walls that surround the temple complex.
Karikkakom Sree Chamundi Devi Temple or Karikkakom Devi Temple is a temple to three Hindu goddess Chamundi located in Thiruvananthapuram, India at Karikkakom. It is more than 600 years old and enshrines a Panchaloha idol of the goddess Karikkakathamma – an incarnation of Chamundi. Chamundi Devi is worshiped there in three different forms: Maha Chamundi, Raktha Chamundi, and Bala Chamundi.
The Mukkolakkal BhagawathiTemple is a famous temple of the Hindu mother goddess Bhagawati. One of the renowned Goddess Temples in Kerala, Sree Varaham Mukkolackal Bhagavathi Temple is situated at Sreevaraham, on the south-east of Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. The temple is situated on the south of the famous Sreevaraham Lakshmi Varaha Temple. 'Ooruttu Mahotsavam', the annual religious festival of the temple, is conducted in March - April every year.
Pattupurackal Bhagavathy Temple is an ancient Bhadrakali temple located in Njeezhoor village, Kottayam, Kerala. It is the only temple in Njeezhoor village where the presiding deity is present. The Offering of naranga vilakku and neivilakku on Tuesdays and Fridays is very significant to this temple. The nearest towns are Kuravilangad and Kaduthuruthy. It is about 6 km and 11 km away from the temple respectively.The last renovation activities of the temple were done on March 19, 2016, with the presence of Kshetra Thantri Brahma Sree Anil Dhivakaran Namboothiri.The temple is managed by NSS Karayaogam Number 336.
Kadakkad Sree Bhadrakali Temple is a Hindu temple at Pandalam, India.It is located to the north of Kadakkad, by the Pathanamthitta MC Road. The temple complex also includes an anakkottil and an office room. The temple has arrangements for Hindu wedding, including feast hall and change rooms. It also has a stage to conduct cultural events. The main deity of the temple is Bhadrakali. The temple also has shrines of other deities such as Brahmarakshas, Yakshi, Nāga.
The Changattu Bhagavathy Temple is a Hindu religious shrine at Kallambalam in Kerala, India. The Goddess Kannaki (Parvathi) is the main deity in this temple.
