Thiruvonathoni, the Garuda-faced temple vessel carrying material for the annual Onasadya (feast) at the Sree Parthasarathy Temple at Aranmula, was accorded a ceremonial reception on its arrival at the temple ghats on the river Pampa on Wednesday morning.
The decorated temple vessel set off from the MahaVishnu Temple ghats at Kattoor near Cherukol upstream of Kozhencherry with provisions, vegetables and spices for the Onam feast on Tuesday evening.
The specially designed Thiruvonathoni was escorted by as many as 15 Pallioyodams (snakeboats) from the villages in and around Aranmula in a ceremonial procession on the Pampa.
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In keeping with tradition, the senior-most member of Mangattu Illom at Kumaranalloor in Kottayam district, M.R. Narayana Bhattathiri whose ancestors believed to have migrated from Kattoor a long time back, captained the Thiruvonathoni from Kattoor to Aranmula.
Mr. Bhattathiri had reached Kattoor in a specially designed canoe from Kumaranalloor, earlier, on Tuesday to escort the Thiruvonathoni. Devotees offered provisions and vegetables for the Onasadya at the Aranmula temple.
Hundreds of devotees thronged the Parthasarathy Temple ghats and on both banks of the river to receive the temple vessel at day-break.
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The thoni anchored at the temple ghats around 6.15 a.m. in an atmosphere charged with devotion. The rhythmic vanchippatu, verses in praise of Lord Krishna, rent the air.
Paying obeisance to the temple vessel, devotees were found touching it with folded hands. They offered cotton shawls, tobacco, betel leaves and arecanuts as is the custom.
Mr. Bhattathiri handed over the oil lamp brought from Kattoor Maha Vishnu Temple to the Melsanthi at the Parthasarathy Temple for transferring it to the ‘kedavilakku’ there, later.
The Onasadya was prepared with the material brought in the thoni and the feast was served to the devotees immediately after the Utchapuja.
As many as 300 sadhus camping at the Parthasarathy Temple too were among those who partook of the feast.