All set for annual Aranmula Vallasadya

The two-month annual season of Vallasadya, a ritualistic feast offered by the devotees to the presiding deity at the Sree Parthasarathy temple on the banks of river Pampa at Aranmula, will begin at the temple Oottupura (dining hall) on Thursday.

Travancore Devaswom Board member P.K. Kumaran inaugurating the preparation of dishes for the ritualistic feast, Vallasadya, by lighting a lamp at the Oottupura of the Sree Parthasarathy temple at Aranmula on Wednesday. Photo: Special arrangement

The two-month annual season of Vallasadya, a ritualistic feast offered by the devotees to the presiding deity at the Sree Parthasarathy temple on the banks of river Pampa at Aranmula, will begin at the temple Oottupura (dining hall) on Thursday.

The Palliyoda Seva Sanghom, apex body of various Palliyoda Karayogams that own the Paliyodams (snake boats), and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) have made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Vallasadya offered to the snake boat crew from July 31 to October 2.

Preparation begins

Preparation of dishes for the feast began at the temple Oottupura with TDB member P.K. Kumaran, lighting a lamp at the Oottupura on Wednesday.

Unnikrishna Pillai, senior chef, transferred the fire brought from the sanctum sanctorum to the hearth on the occasion.

Rituals

The feast is offered to the snake boat crew who are invited by the devotee for the offering. The boat crew who reach the temple ghats in their Palliyodam will be accorded a customary reception. Singing Vanchippattu, songs in praise of Lord Parthsarathy, they go round the temple after offering Nirapara (a measure of threshed paddy), betel leaves, tobacco, and areca nuts, before the holy temple mast as a mark of reverence to the deity.

Treasurer of Nair Service Society K.N. Viswanathan will inaugurate this year’s Vallasadya at the Aanakkottil of the temple at 11 a.m.