Hail Kali! Hail Saraswati!
BBC News is reporting on what it says may be the largest gathering of women ever seen on the planet.
Clad in traditional Kerala saris and bearing offerings of food, more than two million women - perhaps more - thronged the state capital Trivandrum on Sunday.
The women braved searing heat to offer a special meal at the Attukal temple to Hindu goddess Bhagavathy - one incarnation of the potent goddesses Kali and Saraswati.
Women howled shrilly, as is the custom at the culmination of this 10-day annual event, and they joined the chief priest in offering their earthenware pots overflowing with rice and jaggery - an unrefined sugar - to the presiding goddess.
They were seeking her blessing for the health and prosperity of their families - and the special meal, known as the pongala, was later distributed among family and friends back at home.
It sounds amazing: The legend goes that Bhagavathy once visited the spot where the temple stands today on the banks of the Killiyar river.
The goddess, in the guise of a girl, sought the help of the head of a local family to cross the river. He helped her - but she vanished soon after.
Imagine that many women coming together to worship a Goddess. The patriarchy just felt a great disturbance in the force.
A New Era
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2 comments:
Cannot call Bhagavathy a bored Goddess, but long may She reign anyway!
Can't imagine the energy of all of the wonderful spirits calling on and thanking the Goddess!
Jan at Rosemary Cottage
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