Crew of as many as 12 'palliyodams' (snakeboats) partook of the Vallasadya (ritualistic feast) offered by devotees to the presiding deity at Sree Parthasarathy Temple situated on the banks of River Pampa at Aranmula on Tuesday.
The boat crew attached to the Palliyoda Karayogams of Thaimaravumkara, Nellickal, Laka-Edayaranmula, Edasserimala-East, Edasserimala, Mallappauzhasserry, Ponnumthottom, Malakkara, Melukara, Kodiyattukara, Maramon, and Thottappuzhasserry partook of the feast, according to K.V. Sambadevan, Palliyoda Seva Sanghom president.
Vallasadya is a ritualistic feast at the Sree Partahsarathy Temple offered to snakeboat crew treating them as the representatives of the presiding deity. The boat crew were accorded a customary reception at the temple ghats and they were escorted to the temple by devotees with the accompaniments of ‘thalappoli' and traditional temple percussion. The oarsmen offered Nirapara (a measure of threshed paddy), tobacco, arecanuts, and betel leaves to the deity and went around the temple, singing aloud the rhythmic ‘Vanchippattu', songs in praise of Lord Krishna, before being escorted to the dining hall (Oottupura) for the feast.
The feast was served immediately after the Utchapuja at the temple. Oarsmen demanding a fresh serve of rice or an accompanying dish in typical Vanchippatu style was an added attraction of the Vallasadya. As many as 45 items, including boiled rice, and different varieties of sweet, sour, and fried items were served at the feast, said Mr Sambadevan. The famous ‘Ambalappuzha Palpayasom' (rice kheer) was also served on Tuesday, he said.
