1. Attukal Bhagavathy

2. Thiruvananthapuram

3. Attukal Pongala

4. Attukal Pongala Mahotsavam is a 10 days festival which falls on February - March every year (Malayalam month of Kumbham). The festival begins on the Karthika star
It begins with the traditional
Kappukettu with the idol of Devi being embellished with Kappu (Bangles).
and Kudiyiruthu ceremony in which the diety is invited to the thatched shed.
Thottam pattu (Thottampattu) is yet another important ritual held in Attukal Bhagavathy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The festival begins with the kudiyiruthu of bhagavathy to a temporary shed made of thatched coconut leaves in the temple premises. The ritual of Thottampattu begins after the diety is invited to the thatched shed.
The Thottampattu, devotional song which tells the story of Kannaki in Tamil text Chilappatikaram. The ritual song continues for ten days, and the story told on each day is also related to the rituals in the temple.

5. The temple is famous for the annual Attukal Pongala festival, in which over three million women participate. 
This festival has figured in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the single largest gathering of women for a religious activity.
Attukal Temple is situated 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/ Durga/ Parvathy.

6. The story
A few centuries ago, the head of Mulluveettil family was met with a young girl who asked him to help her cross the Killi river in which he was performing his ritualistic prayers. The Karanavar (family head) knew it was no ordinary girl, because of her charm and charisma. He bowed before her and willingly took her to the other side of the river. He invited her to his home nearby and the whole family was preparing to receive this girl. However, they couldn't find her as she had disappeared by the time Mulluveettil family was ready to receive her.

7. The Dream
The Karanavar and his family were a little puzzled. The Karanavar saw the girl once again in his dream, in the same day as he saw the little girl. The girl appeared as an icon and told him to give her an abode in the nearby Kavu (a grove where shrubs and wild animals including snakes are left undisturbed). She told him that he would see three lines at a specific point in the kavu and she wanted her abode erected there.

8. The Temple
With joy, the old man reached the Kavu and to his surprise, he found three lines marked on the ground. He knew it was a sacred spot and he wasted no time erecting a temple.
The temple was renovated and a bigger temple with a new icon was installed. The goddess was represented as a woman with four arms, each bearing a spear, sword, skull and shield.

9. The girl who appeared before the Karanavar of Mulluveettil family is known to be Kannagi. Kannagi is the famous heroine of Chilapathikaram, a Tamil epic written by Illankovadikal. She is the incarnation of Sree Parvathy, the consort of Lord Siva

10. Kovalan and Kannagi
Kovalan, the son of a wealthy merchant in Kaveripattinam, married Kannagi, a young woman of legendary beauty. They lived together happily in the city of Kaveripattinam.

11. Kovalan and Madhavi
Kovalan met the dancer Madhavi and fell in love with her. In his infatuation he forgot Kannagi and gradually spent all his wealth on the dancer.

12. Kovalan in Madurai
At last, penniless, Kovalan realised his mistake, and returned back to Kannagi. Their only asset was a precious pair of anklets (Chilambu - hence the name of the epic), filled with gems, which she gave to him willingly. With these as their capital they went to the city of Madurai, where Kovalan hoped to recoup his fortunes by trade.

13. Pandya King Nedunchezhiyan I
The city of Madurai was ruled by the Pandya King Nedunchezhiyan I. Kovalan's objective was to sell the anklets in this kingdom so that he and his wife would be able to start their lives over. Unfortunately, around the time he set out to sell the anklets, one anklet (out of a pair) was stolen from the queen, by a greedy court member. This anklet looked very similar to Kannagi's. The only difference was that Kannagi's were filled with rubies and the queen's filled with pearls, but this was not a visible fact. When Kovalan went to the market, he was accused of having stolen the anklet. He was immediately beheaded by the King's guards, without trial.

14. Kannagi in court
Kannagi got infuriated when she heard the news and rushed to the King with the second pair of anklet. She broke one of the anklets and it contained rubies while the Queen's contained pearls.

15. She cursed the city of Madurai, and it is said that due to her chastity, the curse came true and Madurai burned. Kannagi is said to have attained salvation after the Goddess of the city appeared before her.

16. Kannagi as Kodungalloor Amma