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இது பற்றிய ஹிண்டு பத்திரிக்கை செய்தி

கலியுகத்தில் ஒரு அற்புத நிகழ்வு

`A rare event in Kaliyuga'

Padma Bhushan winner and the spiritual head of Manjunatheswara Temple in Dharmastala, Karnataka, Veerendra Heggade accompanied by his wife, Hemavathy, and daughter Mythri were among the few VIP dignitaries to offer Pongala at the Attukal temple on Saturday.

Mr. Heggade who came here on an invitation from the Attukal temple authorities described the festival as a "rare event happening in Kaliyuga." He was all praise for the egalitarian nature of the festival. "Earlier, only the rich could go near the goddess and pray to her. Here (Pongala) you do not have any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed or colour," he said.

Mr. Heggade lauded the women devotees for their discipline at the festival. "Conducting a festival involving lakhs of devotees is no mean task. The patience and discipline shown by the women in offering Pongala is exemplary," he said.

Mr. Heggade was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2000 for his services in the fields of education, religion and social welfare.

Cricketer Sreesanth's mother Santhakumari offered pongala at her sister's house in Chettikulangara in the city. She offered pongala for the success of her son and the Indian team at the World Cup in West Indies.

The festival had its regular share of foreigners and film and television artistes. The artistes included Kalpana, Kalaranjini, Chippi, Poornima Mohan, Ambika, Radha and Seema G. Nair.

For the foreigners being at the festival venue teeming with women devotees was in itself a "fascinating experience."

"It is the first time that I am seeing so many women coming together at one place," said Katharina Franke, a tourism management student from Germany undergoing training at a private hotel in the city. "The only event I can recall involving such high-level of public participation in Germany was the visit of the new Pope after he assumed charge," said Ms. Franke who went around clicking photographs to capture the spirit of the festival.

For Polly Baggott, a 43-year-old grandmother and history teacher from Wales in the United Kingdom, it was her fascination for Hinduism that prompted her to turn up at the festival.

"I like Hindu culture very much. Hinduism offers something for everyone," said Ms. Baggott referring to the innumerable Hindu gods and goddess. "In the West we have culture, but no spirituality," said Ms. Baggott describing the Pongala as the biggest gathering of women in the world.

Sangeeth Kurian
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