Thiruvananthapuram, August 7, 2013: Braving the rain and floods in parts of the State, lakhs of people offered prayers remembering their forefathers at temples, beaches, river banks, and other sacred locations on Tuesday on the occasion of Karkidaka Vavu.

Large crowds were present at the Thiruvallam Parasurama Temple, Varkala Janardanaswami Temple and the Shanghumughom beach in Thiruvananthapuram, Thirumullavaram beach in Kollam, Thiruvilvamala on the banks of the Bharathapuzha, Mahavishnu temple on the banks of the Papanasini river at Thirunelly in Wayanad, and Navamukunda Temple at Thirunavaya in Malappuram.

With floodwaters inundating the Aluva Shiva temple and the traditional ‘Balitharpanam’ site on the banks of the Periyar river, the authorities made alternate arrangements for devotees by erecting temporary sheds from Thottakkattukara to Manapuram Althara. Thousands offered bali at Aluva braving heavy rain and poor arrangments.

Arrangements

Thousands of devotees performed the ‘Balitharpanam’ ritual at other locations like Aruvikkara, Neyyar, and Thrikkannapuram in Thiruvananthapuram, Veerabhadra Swamy Temple on the banks of the Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam, Koorkkencheri Sree Maheswara Temple and Thriprayar Melthrikkovil Shiva Temple in Thrissur, Sree Rama Temple at Ponkuzhy near Muthanga on the Kerala- Karnataka border, and the Thrikkannad Thryambakeswari Temple in Kasaragod.

Anticipating the heavy turnout, the Travancore Devaswom Board, the police, and the district administration had made arrangements including emergency medical services.

Hindu voluntary organisations also chipped in with services and arranged priests to guide the devotees offering ‘Balitharpanam’ seeking eternal peace for the souls of their forefathers.

Source: The Hindu, August 7, 2013