The temple is renowned for the annual Attukal Pongal festival, in which over three million women participate.

After their wedding, Kovalan met a dancer named Madhavi and spent all his riches on her, neglecting his wife.

She appeared in his dream and asked him to build a temple on the spot he found three golden lines in his grove.

A different legend identifies the goddess of Attukal as Bhadrakali, who emerged from the third eye of Shiva to slay the asura king Daruka.

[2] Attukal Pongala Mahotsavam is a 10 days festival which falls on February – March every year (Malayalam month of Kumbham).

[3] The festival begins on the Karthika star with the traditional Kappukettu and Kudiyiruthu ceremony, the idol of Devi, is embellished with Kappu (Bangles).

[5] Millions of women gather every year in the month of Kumbham around this temple and prepare Pongala (rice cooked with jaggery, ghee, coconut as well as other ingredients) in the open in small pots to please the Goddess Kannaki.