The 10-day Pongala festival at the Attukal Bhagavathy temple here got off to a start at the temple here on Wednesday with the ‘Kappukettu’ ceremony at 8 a.m. It was witnessed by hundreds of devotees, primarily women. The next 10 days, till the Pongala offering on March 5, will witness various rituals at the temple, accompanied by cultural programmes on the premises.
The city Corporation has enlisted the services of 2,550 sanitary workers, 720 permanent and 1,830 temporary, for Attukal pongala-related cleaning work in 20 wards which come under the festival area.
For the distribution of clean drinking water, eight water trucks and 25 water tanks had been arranged, a press release issued here on Wednesday said.
For waste removal on Pongala day, 55 tippers and lorries would be used. Voluntary organisations, clubs, and residents associations which intended to distribute food and water on the festival day would need prior permission from the Food Safety Department.
The waste produced in such distribution would have to be managed by the respective organisations, it said.
Plastic plates, cups, and mud bricks would have to be avoided completely. A squad consisting of 57 groups of Corporation sanitary workers had been formed for cleaning up the areas where Pongala would be offered. The responsibility of the groups had been given to the health officer, 2 health supervisors, 23 health inspectors, and 90 junior health inspectors. Water sprinkling would be done to prevent dust profusion.
A round-the-clock control room of the Corporation’s Health Standing Committee would function on the Attukal temple premises.
The standing committee had requested the cooperation of the public and the devotees for the cleaning activities.
Prior permission needed to take up food distribution
8 trucks to ensure supply of clean drinking water