Attukal Pongala: Youth Clubs, Neighbourhood Groups and Masculine Performance of Religiosity

This article unravels the complex narratives which might counter the popular perception of the pongala festival as an "all-women space". The all-male groupings that have sprung up in and around the Attukal Bhagavathy temple during the festival and their participation in the ritual are examined closely. An analysis of the film Vedivazhipadu, which is set against the backdrop of the festival, also incisively questions the taken-for-granted "purity" of the ritual and its nature as a hyper-feminine space.