Kochi, August 7, 2013: While the crowds seen in the past seemed to be missing, there were those who remained undeterred by adverse climate and thronged the Manappuram Shiva Temple for the annual ‘Bali Tharpan’ ritual on tuesday. However, the incessant rain and flooding did cast a shadow on the day’s rituals although thousands lined up to perform them on Tuesday. The Devaswom Board officials said that number of devotees who visited the temple was significantly lower this year.

 Belief has it that the rituals performed on ‘Karkidaka Vavu’ for ancestors would help the departed souls attain liberation. The rush of devotees began around 5.30 am, but they were asked to perform the rituals on both sides of the roads that lead to the temple starting from the Kadathukadavu junction, near the National Highway.

 The district administration and the temple administration were geared up with 24 trained life guards from the Tourism Department and a reserve force from the Indian Navy to meet any Emergency.

Business Affected

The non-stop rain and the floods in Aluva marked not only a dip in the number of devotees this year but also huge losses for the Devaswom and traders. Both the Travancore Devaswom Board and the traders faced loss to the tune of lakhs of rupees this year.

 The ‘Bali Tharpan’ day usually garners about `5 lakh for the Devaswom. Officials concerned admitted that they received only about one fourth of it this year. Besides, provisions worth ` 1lakh were washed away in the floods.

“There is a loss in revenue and we have lost almost all the provisions stored for the day,” said administrative officer Rajendran Nair. The Devaswom has sought help from the disaster fund of the government to recover the losses.

Traders also incurred a loss of lakhs of rupees.

“We had rented plots on the temple premises from the Devaswom for the day’s business. The rent alone will come to thousands of rupees. Everything set up for the business, including ‘panthal’ materials, goods and even electrification, was completely washed away in the floods. Altogether, I have faced a loss of about `2.5 lakh,” said Justin, a trader. The Devaswom officials said that they would consider giving back the rent to the traders as compensation.

Source: The New Indian Express, August 7, 2013