The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Thousands offer `bali'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 05, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Thousands offer `bali'

Staff Reporter

KSRTC operates special services to Thiruvallam, Shanghumughom

PROPITIATING ANCESTORS: Devotees offer 'bali' on `Karkidaka Vavu' day at Shangumughom in the city. Photo: C.Ratheesh Kumar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tens of thousands of people offered `Vavu bali' to departed souls on the occasion of `Karkidaka Vavu' on Thursday in the city and district.

The `bali' rituals were held at the Parasuramaswamy Temple at Thiruvallam, Papanasam beach at Varkala, Shangumughom beach, Aruvikkara and Aruvippuram, among other places.

At the Parasuramaswamy temple, the rituals began at 3.30 a.m. and went on till after 1 p.m. According to a temple spokesman, more than 25,000 people offered `kshethra pindam' and `kadavu bali' on Thursday. More than 40 priests led the rituals.

Labour Minister Babu Divakaran was among those who came in the morning to offer `bali.' A spokesman of the Janardanaswamy temple, Varkala, said more than four lakh people converged at the beach to offer `bali.' About 10,000 people offered `thila havanam' at the temple. More than 200 priests were on hand on Thursday to assist those who came for offering `bali,' he said.

At the Shanghumughom beach too there was a heavy rush to offer `bali.' More than 10,000 people are reported to have taken part in the rituals at Aruvikkara. The KSRTC operated special bus services to Thiruvallam and Shanghumughom.

Sreekantan Nair, a resident of Kaithamukku here, who had gone to offer `bali' at the Parasuramaswamy Temple, died of a heart attack.

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