A Friday sermon by Palayam Imam V P Suhaib Maulavi in Thiruvananthapuram has gone viral after he urged members of the Muslim community to open their mosques and homes to Hindu women and children attending the annual Attukal Pongala.
With this year’s Pongala coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan, the Imam called for sharing the spirit of joy, fraternity and compassion that defines Ramadan with visiting devotees. The festival, centred at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, is scheduled for early March 2026 and is expected to draw lakhs of women participants.
While no formal government statement was issued specifically on the Imam’s speech, officials including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan have reviewed extensive arrangements to ensure a safe and peaceful celebration, with thousands of police personnel deployed and civic services on high alert. Social media users have widely praised the message as a reflection of Kerala’s enduring communal harmony.
A Call to Open Doors During Sacred Observances
Delivering his sermon at the Palayam Mosque in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, Imam V P Suhaib Maulavi emphasised that while Muslims need not take part in the religious rituals of Pongala, they have a moral responsibility to embody the generosity and empathy that Ramadan represents.
“Attukal Pongala is being observed during the holy month of Ramadan this time as well. We must share the spirit of joy, fraternity and love that defines Ramadan with our sisters and their children who come here for Pongala,” he said.
The Attukal Pongala festival, recognised as one of the largest congregations of women devotees in the world, sees lakhs gather to prepare a ritual offering of sweet rice in earthen pots for Goddess Attukal Bhagavathy. Streets across the city transform into temporary hearths as women, often accompanied by their children, sit for hours in prayer and devotion. Given the sheer scale of the gathering, access to drinking water, shade, sanitation facilities and rest spaces becomes crucial.
In this context, the Imam urged local residents to extend practical support offering water, allowing devotees to rest within mosque compounds or nearby homes, and assisting children and the elderly where needed. His words quickly resonated beyond Kerala after a video clip of the sermon was shared widely on X (formerly Twitter).
One user wrote, “This simple yet profound gesture reflects the soul of Kerala where compassion transcends boundaries, and unity blossoms in diversity. This is the real Kerala story a land where faiths meet, kindness flows, and humanity shines brighter than any tradition.”
The message struck a chord at a time when communal tensions often dominate headlines elsewhere in the country. Many online commenters described the appeal as a timely reminder that faith can serve as a bridge rather than a barrier.
Massive Preparations and Kerala’s Tradition of Coexistence
This year’s Pongala, scheduled for 3 March 2026, coincides with Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, prayer and charity. The overlap of the two observances has added a layer of symbolic significance to the Imam’s remarks.
Ahead of the festival, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan chaired high-level meetings to review preparations. According to officials, more than 5,800 police personnel will be deployed for crowd control and security. CCTV cameras and drone surveillance are being used to monitor key points, while medical teams, fire and rescue services, sanitation workers and special transport arrangements have been mobilised to manage the expected turnout. Authorities have also set up control rooms and helplines to assist devotees.
Local police officials have reiterated that elaborate measures are in place to ensure smooth conduct of the event and safe dispersal of crowds. Civic authorities have coordinated with the temple trust and community organisations to maintain cleanliness and provide essential services.
Kerala has long been celebrated for its syncretic traditions and high levels of social development. The Palayam area of Thiruvananthapuram itself is often cited as a symbol of religious coexistence, with a temple, mosque and church located in close proximity. Over the years, interfaith gestures from offering water to devotees during processions to extending Iftar meals across communities have reinforced a culture of everyday harmony.
The Imam’s appeal builds on this history. Rather than framing coexistence as an abstract ideal, he translated it into concrete action: open a gate, share water, offer shade, extend kindness. In doing so, he rooted communal harmony in simple, human gestures.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
In a climate where polarising rhetoric frequently overshadows stories of solidarity, this moment from Thiruvananthapuram offers a powerful counter-narrative. The Imam’s message reminds us that faith traditions, at their core, emphasise compassion, generosity and care for neighbours values that transcend religious boundaries.
Kerala’s example shows that coexistence is not accidental; it is cultivated through deliberate acts of respect and empathy. When religious leaders use their platforms to promote inclusion rather than division, they reinforce social trust and strengthen the fabric of democracy. Importantly, the appeal does not dilute anyone’s beliefs. Instead, it honours them by living out their most humane teachings.
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