Pongal, also referred to as Thai Pongal (தைப்பொங்கல்), 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 the Surya, the Sun God and corresponds to Makar Sankranti, the harvest festival under many regional names celebrated throughout India. The three days of the Pongal festival are called Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal, and Mattu Pongal. Some Tamils celebrate a fourth day of Pongal known as Kanum Pongal.
Thaipusam or Thaipoosam is a Tamil Hindu festival celebrated on the full moon of the Tamil month of Thai (January/February), usually coinciding with Pushya star, known as Pusam in Tamil.
Kollam, also known by its former name Quilon, is an ancient seaport and city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is 71 km (44 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada river. Kollam is the fourth largest city in Kerala and is known for cashew processing and coir manufacturing. It is the southern gateway to the Backwaters of Kerala and is a prominent tourist destination. Kollam is one of the most historic cities with continuous settlements in India. The Malayalam calendar (Kollavarsham) is also known so with the name of the city Kollam. Geographically, Quilon formation seen around coastal cliffs of Ashtamudi Lake, represent sediments laid down in the Kerala basin that existed during Mio-Pliocene times.
Paravur, is a municipality in the Kollam district of Kerala, India. Paravur is located 11.6 km (7.2 mi) southeast of the Kollam city centre, and is a part of the Kollam metropolitan area. Paravur railway station is the last station in Kollam district which is on the route to Trivandrum while travelling towards South India.
Parippally is a village in Kalluvathukal Panchayath of Kollam district, Kerala, India. Paripally village is situated 22 kilometres (14 mi) South of Kollam City along NH66 and 44 kilometres (27 mi) North of Trivandrum along NH66. Kollam Govt. Medical College is situated in Parippally. The nearest town Chathannor is located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) away, Kottiyam is another major town located near Parippally.
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.
Pakalkuri is a charming village situated in the eastern part of Varkala Taluk in Thiruvananthapuram District in Kerala, India. It is situated 20km east of Varkala Town on the banks of the river Ithikkara and well known for its serene beauty and landscape. The river Ithikkara, which originates from the Western Ghats, separates Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam Districts at Pakalkuri in its meandering to the Arabian sea.
Chakkulathu Kavu 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.
Anandavalleeswaram Sri Mahadevar Temple in Kollam city is one of the ancient Hindu temples in Kerala, India. Lord Siva and Goddess Anandavally are the main deities of the temple. According to folklore, sage Parashurama has installed the idol of Lord Shiva. The temple is a part of the 108 famous Shiva temples in Kerala. It is located at Anandavalleeswaram, a major neighborhood of Kollam city, that comes to the west side of Kollam Collectorate.
Kuthiyottam, sometimes spelled Kutiyottam, is a ritual youth dance, and in some cases of mock blood sacrifice, found at annual Pongala festival celebrations at some Hindu temples in Kerala dedicated to Bhadrakali or Durga – a warrior goddess. This ritual features volunteer teenage or younger boys who live under austere conditions over the festival period in the Malayalam calendar month of Kumbham. They wear ascetic clothes, abstain from meat and eat simple food, participate in daily prayers in the temple. They also dress up in ceremonial clothes and perform as singers and dancers under the guidance of an asan (conductor). These dances are synchronized with the legends of the goddess. These dances are highly energetic, paced to the beat of drums, with singers and feature traditional costumes.
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.
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.
Pulimukam Temple is a Hindu temple located in Thazhava neighbourhood in the Kollam district of Kerala, India. Bhadra Bhagavathi is the presiding deity of the temple. The temple is situated at about 5 km north of Karunagappally and is reachable by National Highway 47.
Hinduism, Islam and Christianity are the prominent religions in Kollam district. As per the Census 2011, out of the total population of 2,635,375 persons, 64.42% follow Hinduism, 19.30% follow Islam and 16.00% follow Christianity. Other religions comprise 0.04%, while 0.25% did not state any religion.
Anikkattilammakshethram is a Hindu Temple situated in Anicadu Village, 3.5 km from Mallappally in Pathanamthitta district in the southern part of Kerala, India. Here, Adiparasakthi Sivan and benign Parvathi are worshiped with equal significance in one Sreekovil, which is one of the rarest of its kind in Kerala. Agnimahakalan and Agniyekshi are symbolized in these idols, each measuring about 4 feet and installed side by side. The demon-shaped Lord Shiva (Kiratha) has bow and arrow in His arms and Parvati has sword in Her hand. The temple, situated by the bank of river Manimala, is estimated to have come into existence around 1600 years ago during the early days of Edapally dynasty. Apart from the Deities in the main Sreekovil, there are Lord Siva, Bhadra, Nagaraja, Rakshasas and Yekshiamma in the sub-abodes in the courtyard.
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.
Elamgulam Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is a Hindu temple in India, located in the state of Kerala. It is situated on Main Eastern Highway (SH-8) with its landmark panoramic temple ground in the village of Elamgulam in Kottayam district. The temple's annual festival features the captivating Gajamela and Aanayoottu ceremonies with around 15 elephants.
Government Medical College, Kollam, formerly ESIC Medical College, Parippally, is the first Government medical college in Kollam district, Kerala, India. It is situated 21 km (13 mi) south of Kollam city and 9.6 km (6.0 mi) east of Paravur town. The College was initially established by the Employees State Insurance Corporation, a Government of India establishment, and later acquired by the Government of Kerala.
The Kollam City Police is the law enforcement agency concerned with the maintenance of law and order in the Indian city of Kollam and the municipalities of Karunagappalli and Paravur(Chathannoor division) along with several towns in Kollam district. Kollam City Police is the first ISO 9001 certified law enforcement agency in Kerala state and second one in India. The Kollam City Police has about 2,200 officers and handles an average of 35000 cases per year.
Valiya Koonambaikulam temple or Valia Koonampayikulam temple is a Hindu temple located at Koonambaikulam near Vadakkevila in Kollam district of Kerala in India. This is one of the most ancient temples in Kerala and is dedicated to Bhadrakali. The temple is under the control of Valiya Koonambaikulam Sree Bhadrakali Kshetra Trust. The trust owns an Engineering college called Valia Koonambaikulathamma College of Engineering and Technology (VKCET) at Parippally in Kollam district.
India 
