Festivities at the Thrikkakara Vamana temple were in full swing with Pakal Pooram drawing a huge crowd on Sunday, Uthradom. The temple authorities are expecting around 15,000 people for the Thiruvonam feast on Monday. It will be the culmination of the 10-day festival at the temple heralding Onam. Last year, nearly 13,000 people had participated in the feast.
Though a downpour in the morning dampened the spirit of Onam shopping, the Uthradappachil (last-minute shopping spree for Thiruvonam) picked up pace during the day. Textile shops and vegetable markets had a field day. However, inclement weather played spoilsport again towards the end of the day. Ernakulathappan ground, Broadway and Ernakulam market saw large crowds arriving for the last-minute shopping. However, the traffic was not disrupted.
Clay figures of Onathappan were one of the most sought after items.
The city’s business centres witnessed brisk business throughout the day. People thronged Palarivattom and Vyttila Junctions for the last-minute purchase.
Vegetable prices
Prices of most of the must-have vegetables ranged between Rs.50 and Rs.60 per kg. Bitter gourd, long beans and nendran bananas ruled at Rs.60 per kg while beans and chillies were sold at Rs.50 per kg. Drumsticks were sold at Rs.40 per kg while tomatoes and potatoes were sold at Rs. 20 per kg.
Onam feast
The Ernakulam Annadana Samithy organised Onasadhya on Sunday for the poor. One thousand people took part in the sadhya.
Writer and critic M. K. Sanoo inaugurated the event. Deputy Mayor B. Bhadra presided over the function.
P. Rajeev, MP, distributed new dresses for the poor.
T. R. Devan, patron of the Samithy, said new dresses were given to 200 men and 100 women chosen from the 1, 000 people registered with the Samithy.
