Thrissur, August 7, 2013: Thousands of people performed Karkkikaka Vavu Bali rites at different sacred spots in the district on Tuesday.

Braving rain, they offered homage to their ancestors.

For Hindus, ‘Pitru Tharpanam’ is a sacred act. Karkkidaka Vavu falls on new moon day in the Malayalam month of Karkkidakam, the first Amavasi of Dakshinayanam (a six-month period between summer solstice and winter solstice when the sun apparently travels towards the south on the celestial sphere).

Large crowds were seen at Thiruvilwamala on the banks of the Bharathapuzha to perform the rites. People took a dip in the river. Some of them observed ‘Orikkal’(having food only once a day).

Vavu Bali rites were also performed at the Koorkkencheri Sree Maheswara Temple, Thriprayar Melthrikkovil Shiva Temple, Thriprayar Kizhakke Nada, Annakara Thrikkulasekharapuram Annapurneswari Temple, Venkitangu Sree Sankaranarayana Temple, Valappad Brahmathejomayam and the Chavakkad Viswanatha Temple.

The rush of devotees caused traffic congestion on the Thiruvilwamala-Ottapalam route in the morning. The massive traffic jam slowed vehicles to a crawl from the Lakkidi railway station to the VKN Nagar Quarry Bus Stop.

Parking facilities were arranged by authorities in Thiruvilwamala.

But an unexpected number of vehicles arrived and created traffic bottlenecks there.

Pilgrimage

Devotees also thronged the four temples in central Kerala for ‘Nalambala Darsanam’, an annual pilgrimage in Karkkidakam. The pilgrimage will conclude on August 16.

The pilgrimage involves offering prayers at the Thriprayar Sree Rama Temple, Moozhikkulam Lakshmana Temple, Irinjalakuda Koodalmanikyam Temple and Payammal Shathrughna temple on a single day. The temples are dedicated to Lord Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Shathrughna.

Source: The Hindu, August 7, 2013