Attukal Pongala is an annual congregation of women to offer Pongala - an offering of boiled rice in earthern pot - during the Malayalam month of Kumbham (February-March). Today the Pongala has become a symbol of sincerity, devotion to Devi, the Mother god and above all a celebration of womanhood. Last year27 lakh women participated in the Pongala festival. It has also entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest gathering of women in the world.