Palakkad, August 6, 2013: Elaborate arrangements have been made in Ivor Madhom, Kalpathy, Thirunellai and Yakkara, the main centres in the district where the Vavu Balitharpanam (Pithru Tharpanam) ritual will be held on Tuesday.

Vavu Balitharpanam annually falls on the new moon day of the Malayalam month of Karkidakam. The relatives of the dead perform the ritual praying for the liberation and peace of the departed soul. This year, it falls on Tuesday.

The rites are conducted with the help of the priests on the banks of holy rivers and beaches. Taking a dip in the water before and after the rituals with flowers and cooked rice is the custom.

Women also take part in the religious ceremony in large numbers. The Balitharpanam is also performed in houses.

Ivor Madhom in Palakkad district witnesses thousands of people from different parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka congregate on the banks of the Bharathapuzha for the Balitharpanam.

This year, special security arrangements have been made at Ivor Madhom, as the Bharathapuzha is in spate. Chief priest of Ivor Madhom Ramesh Korapath said the ritual would start at 4 a.m. and nearly two dozen priests would be helping the people to offer Balitharpanam.

At Kalpathy, yet another spot in Palakkad for the conduct of the ritual, arrangements have been made by the district administration, municipality, and the police for the Balitharpanam rites that start early in the morning.

Efforts are also on to clean the banks of the Kalpathy river, a tributary of the Bharathapuzha, where the ritual will be held. The banks near the Viswanatha Swamy Temple at Kalpathy Agraharam and the nearby Chathapuram Kadavu will receive special focus.

Over 20 priests, authorised by the Viswanatha temple authorities, would be assisting the people to perform the rites, P.N. Viswanathan, former municipal councillor, said.

At Yakkara, the ‘Balitharpanam’ was being organised by the Sree Viswesara Temple on the banks of the Yakkara river. At Thirunellai, the Balitharpanam has been arranged on the banks of the Thirunellai river.

Since all the rivers including the Bharathapuzha and the Kalpathypuzha were flooded due to in the heavy rain, barricades had been put up on the banks for the safety of the people, said Shafi Parambil, MLA. The Fire and Rescue Services would make available service of three expert divers, he said.

Source: The Hindu, August 6, 2013