Thousands perform 'vavu bali'

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 30. Thousands offered `bali' to the departed souls at the Thiruvallom, Shanghumughom, Aruvikkara, Varkala and various other temples in the district on the occasion of Karkkidaka vavu.

Since the vavu was from 11 a.m. on Sunday to 7 a.m. on Monday, there was an uninterrupted flow of devotees in most of the temples in the evening too.

As many as 20,000 people offered "bali" at the ancient Parasurama Temple in Thiruvallom till the evening. This was against the 13,000 last year. According to the Sub-Group Officer, Mr. Sukumaran Nair, 19 priests and 150 sub-staff and 70 casual labour were deployed to help the devotees to perform the rites. Many devotees had stayed in the temple precincts since Saturday night itself. Policemen were posted in sufficient numbers to regulate traffic and check untoward incidents.

About 13,500 tickets of Rs. 15 each for "Ksehtra Pindam" and 6,500-odd tickets of Rs. 7 for "Kadavu Bali" were sold out till the evening this year, Mr. Nair said. All arrangements have been made to offer "bali" till Monday morning, he said.

There was a heavy rush of devotees at the Papanasam beach in Varkala. Though the vavu was from 7 a.m. devotees began thronging the beach to offer "bali" when the Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple was opened at 4 a.m. More than 20,000 people offered `bali' till the evening. The rush was continuing in the evening too. There was a marked increase in the number of devotees who came to offer `bali' at Papanasam, Devaswom sources said. Arrangements were also made to distribute "prasadam" to the devotees from the temple.

The Varkala Devaswom had deployed 400 priests to help the devotees on the Papanasam beach. Shamianas were put up on the beach. Elaborate arrangements were made by the Varkala Municipality, police, Fire Force, Kerala Water Authority, Public Works Department and voluntary organisations as well to help the devotees. The municipality and the KWA had taken all possible steps to provide drinking water and other facilities to the devotees who converge on the beach. Ambulance service and medical facilities were also arranged.

The Shangumugham beach also witnessed a huge crowd from the early morning.

Devotees also offered `bali' in Kelamanglam Mahavishnu temple, Kerladityapuram, Chirakara Vishnu Temple, Kaimanam and Sree Krishna Temple, Trikannapuram and Avaduthura near Kovalam. No untoward incidents were reported till the evening.

The KSRTC operated special services from all its depots in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts to Varkala and other places in Thiruvananthapuram district where `bali' was offered.

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