Dombivli: Attukal Pongala 2025, the world’s biggest religious gathering for women, was held not only in Kerala this year but also in Mumbai.
Women from all over the city met at Pimpleshwar Temple in Dombivli East to offer Pongala – a sweet dish of rice, jaggery, and coconut – to Goddess Kannaki.
This nice event meant that women who couldn’t attend Kerala could still participate in this ritual. The atmosphere was full of devotion, togetherness, and the smell of Pongala.
Here’s how Mumbai women kept this special Kerala tradition in their city.
Attukal Pongala 2025: A Celebration of Faith and Women
Attukal Pongala happens every year at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. People often call the temple the “Women’s Sabarimala” because only women do the rituals there.
In 2009, Guinness World Records stated that the festival was the largest gathering of women for a religious event on one day, with over 2.5 million people.
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Mumbai Does Pongala in Dombivli
Mumbai had its own option for those who couldn’t make it to Kerala.
Women met at Pimpleshwar Temple in Dombivli East, where they put on the Pongala on the same day as in Kerala. People made sweet offerings in clay pots, performing the same rituals as in Attukal.
Keeping Traditions Alive Far From Home
C. Vijayakumar, from the organizing group, said,
“We’ve been putting on the Pongala in Dombivli for nine years now. A lot of women from Mumbai and nearby join us each year.”
He said that the tradition would keep going.
Mumbai Women Share Their Devotion
Sheena Srihari, who lives in Casa Rio in Lodha Heaven, said,
“I couldn’t go to Attukal this year, but offering Pongala here made me feel good. I hope I can go to the main festival in Kerala soon.”
Many women said the same thing – that being far away didn’t stop their faith.
Attukal Pongala is more than just a religious thing. It’s about togetherness, devotion, and women’s strength. Whether in Kerala or Mumbai, the festival’s spirit is alive, bringing people together through faith.
