Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

Hundreds partake of Onam feast at Aranmula temple

Staff Reporter

Rousing reception to the Thiruvonathoni which brought provisions for the feast

AN ANNUAL EVENT: The Thiruvonathoni carrying provisions and vegetables for the Onam feast being received at the Sree Parthasarathy Temple ghats in Aranmula on Thursday morning.

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Thiruvonathoni carrying provisions and vegetables for the Onam feast at Sree Parthasarathy Temple in Aranmula was accorded a rousing reception by devotees and the temple administration at the temple ghats in the Pampa on Thursday morning.

Hundreds of devotees had thronged the temple ghats in the morning hours to witness the annual event, which they believe will bring good fortunes.

The Garuda-faced temple vessel, escorted by a row of palliyodams (snakeboats) from the Kattoor Vishnu Temple ghats near Kozhencherry since Wednesday evening, reached Aranmula around 5.30 a.m. The devotees offered betel leaves, tobacco and cotton shawls to the Thiruvonathoni as a mark of reverence amid vanchippattu and songs in praise of Lord Krishna.

The Melsanthi transferred the sacred flame from the ceremonial lamp in the temple vessel to the sanctum sanctorum amidst chants of Krishna bhajans. The sacred flame was handed over to the Melsanthi by M.R. Narayana Bhattathiri, eldest member of the Marangatu Illom in Kumaranallore who escorted the temple vessel in keeping with a tradition for the several decades. The Melsanthi transferred the flame to the `kedavilakku' at the temple later.

The Onam feast was held at the temple immediately after utcha puja. Hundreds of devotees partook of the feast.

Legend has it that the Bhattathiri of the Kattoor Madhom used to offer Onam feast to a Brahmin every Thiruvonam day. The Bhattathiri got upset when no Brahmin turned up to accept the feast on a particular Thiruvonam day. A heart-broken Bhattathiri prayed to Lord Parthasarathy and in the next few minutes a Brahmin boy reached the Madhom seeking alms. The Bhattathiri received him with reverence and offered him a sumptuous Onam feast and Onam clothes. Bidding goodbye, the boy told Bhattathiri that he should take the Onam feast to the Aranmula temple from next time onwards. Soon the Bhattathiri realised that the boy was none other than Lord Parthasarathy.

People at Kattoor and Cherukol also used to offer vegetables and other articles for the feast.

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